Omron BP7900 Complete Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

I felt that I needed to submit this review since some prior reviews were somewhat negative. However, most of the latter was due to sensitivities associated with privacy, some problems with connecting to Bluetooth, and the fact that it uses AA batteries which is unfair. As for privacy, it no longer needs to send your initial results for calibration. It starts tracking and monitoring from the first use. As for the batteries, I’ve used mine now 2-3 times daily for 2 weeks and no battery issues. In fact, I like the fact that it’s so portable.

So here’s my review. Download the Omron Connect app to your phone. Be sure your phone is on bluetooth. Be sure you have a good WiFi signal. Go to your phone settings to monitor for connected devices. Push the bluetooth search button on the Omron unit. Accept the connection on your phone. When you start the Omron Connect app, you will need to sign-up for an account. Yes, it will ask for your permission to send your data to Omron so that they can monitor. The free service is all I use. There is a separate, included piece of paper with the unit that says that you no longer need to have your first EKG reviewed by a doctor for “calibration” purposes. I didn’t sign up for any of the subscriptions yet I still find what I get for free from the app to be perfect. I can list all my past blood pressure (BP) readings and send them as an Excel file to myself or doctor by email for tracking. I can send a snapshot of any EKG reading (it stores them on the phone, I think there’s a limit as to how many it stores, I have 2 weeks of EKG right now) and send it by email also. The app lets you chart BP by days, weeks, months. I really don’t need anything else.

So with your account created and the Omron Connect open and running on the phone, go to the Dashboard on the app and select the “Blood Pressure + EKG” option, scroll down a little and you’s see a button that says “Record Blood Pressure and EKG”. Push it and it will bring up an instruction screen that says to connect the BP cuff to your arm, push the “START/STOP” button on the Omron Unit, and place your thumbs and fingers on the metal sensing pads.” So here is where its a little tricky. You need to actually have the Unit OFF since when you press the “START/STOP” button it will in effect turn off if its on. So i usually just set up my phone, place it in the convenient resting cradle on the unit, attach the cuff, and then turn the unit on. It starts automatically. After the EKG is done, wait until your BP reading shows up on the UNIT and then lift your fingers/thumbs off the unit. Everything is stored automatically. It doesn’t take too many tries before you figure out how to use the unit. You get an instantaneous review of your BP and EKG on your phone.

This unit is perfect. I can see why this unit will save lives. The feedback is instant and you can check it several times (though be sure to release the cuff and wait a few minutes between readings). If it takes a few times to get it to work for you be sure you disregard the first few readings as your BP probably went up a bit due to the “stress” associated with getting to know how it works. Once you have it down, it always works.

I highly recommend this unit and this company. This is a real medical instrument by the best company in the business. (I gave the accuracy only 4 stars since I don’t really know how accurate it is; but it is the only home BP and EKG unit that is accredited so I trust it).

EKG is great, easily reads without wetting fingers. Blood pressure measures too high, not accurate. Since it is not returnable ( the amazon website is deceiving, it says it is returnable but if you hover your mouse over it, it says it is not returnable unless damaged.). So, I use the omron connect app with this for bp only, I do not hook up the bp cuff. To do this, I select BP + EKG, then turn it on and tough my thumbs and sides. It still records the ekg and I can PDF it to my physician if I wish. I use the Omron silver cuff for BP, far more accurate. The only caveat is if you record an EKG with this, you need to close the omron connect app and restart for blood pressure readings ( since it is trying to send bp info to the app which does not exist)
Overall, I think if you want EKG and BP readings, buy the Omron silver ( It has bluetooth capabilities for the app) and also buy the kardia mobile 1 lead EKG ( the omron connect app will work with that) .. although the karidia mobile works by ultrasonics, the omron connect app works with bluetooth so the omron complete ekg is very compatible and works well the the omron connect app.

This device is very accurate. With that said it needs the app on a smart phone to work. There have been multiple times that the app was updated for improvements and or updates and stopped working properly. This last time it was updated in early October and I contacted OMRON immediately and was told they know about it and are working on it. I called several times and the app wasn’t fixed until late January. Unacceptable having an app not work that’s required to operate a blood pressure monitor and have it down for months. I use this device and have it connected to Apple health which then uploads daily to my dr so she can take a Quick Look weekly. Last year the app was broken for half the year and OMRON doesn’t care about the products working post sale.