Customer Reviews

Omron HEM-637 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with Advanced Positioning Sensor

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I compared it to the best rated the WalMart brand ReliOn brand It matched the readings within a 1 to 2 points. I made sure that my ReliOn was accurate using a stethoscope and also by comparing with a manual unit many times.

HEM-637 is quiter and much smaller than the ReliOn. One feature I like is that it does not start unless held in the correct poisition. The key is to hold the hand steady, not move, or talk. To hold the arm steady, rest the plam just below the opposite shoulder. Also, make sure that the wrist does not touch the chest to avoid getting erroneous reading.

It is, however, $30 more expensive than the ReliOn. Consider purchasing it if you are a traveller or have uncontrolled BP. It will allow you to track BP under various stress conditions (work) without being noticed.

It stores 99 readings with date and time making recoredkeeping easy. The lack of PC software is not an issue for me. I find manual recordkeeping is faster and quite adequate.

I love my Omron 637 wrist blood pressure monitor. It is so convenient -- especially with the Advanced Positioning Sensor.* It saves 90 measurements, you can view graphs with the results and helps me to understand what my body is going through. My cardiologist told me to buy this particular brand and model (he gave me another suggestion but said it wasn't as good as this one). I especially liked it when I felt very weak shopping at a department store after giving blood earlier in the day -- when I went home (with aid of my family), I took a reading and found that I was suffering from a vasovagal episode - sudden low blood pressure. I appreciated knowing the readings over the next few days to see my gradual return to normal pressure.

I am sure that a trained and experienced medical technician with an arm cuff blood pressure monitor could do a more perfect job but this is just what a person at home can use and not worry it is innacurate enough to cause a person's health to be in jeopardy.

By the way, someone complained about inaccuracy of these monitors but my doctor had me bring my monitor to the office my last two visits and checked to see if it was any different from a professional using the arm cuff monitor -- the difference was negligible. All cardiologists want you to bring your monitor to the office visits so I am sure they don't recommend inaccurate monitors -- I have seen the signs in different doctors' offices saying to always bring your monitor and readings with you.

I recently bought another one of these for a friend and it so convenient for them. You don't have to experiment with where to put a cuff on the arm -- this one goes right on the wrist and the *Advanced Positioning Sensor lets you know when it is placed in the correct position near your heart -- it beep-beep-beeps and then starts closing down on your wrist to check your blood pressure. It won't do it unless it is in the right spot.

By the way, I am still using the first batteries that it either came with or I put in and it has been over 2 1/2 years. Amazing!

This is a good unit for monitoring blood pressure. Purchasers should know ahead that measuring blood pressure with a wrist style monitor is sensitive to arm position. The Intellisense system verifies your arm position before it takes a measurement, making it more consistent than units that do not. (Missing Feature) I lowered the rating to 3 stars because the unit is equipped with an interface port, which if you purchase the unit in Europe or Asia it also comes with software (missing in USA) and a cable (missing in USA) that allows you to download the data to your pc and share with the doctor. Omron refuses to support this feature in the USA (hence my aggravation)

I am an RN & use this blood pressure wrist cuff often. It's accuracy is guarenteed by Omron & certified by the American Heart association. When a quick check is necessary or when people have contracted arms it is invaluable.If anyone has trouble perhaps instructions are not being read. I have owned one for 3 years without problems & am now buying it for each one of my grown children.

My husband & I followed directions, tried different batteries but the blood pressure (B/P) reading is way off. With this machine my husband & I both have unbelievable, inaccurate & consistently low readings (averaging 70/48). He & I both haven't had B/P's lower than 120/80 for yrs. I'm returning it back to the store.

Several months ago, I was advised by my physician to take my BP twice a day. After doing some research, I purchased the Omron HEM 637 after researching the product in several places including Consumer Reports. I have found it to be very accurate when compared with readings that I have received at my doctor's office and by arm cuff readings taken by my wife, an RN with more than 20 years experience. For those who have difficulty following directions EXACTLY, this might not be for you. If you can, it's convenience is hard to beat.

I purchased this product, very leery about its accuracy and just of the fact that I need to start taking charge of my own health in general... Very happy to report that after intermittently playing with it over the course of 24 hours, I have complete faith in its accuracy. Not only has it been on target for a total of ten times measuring my own blood pressure, but I also did two other people in my household and received accurate readings with theirs also.

Rarely do I recommend products to other people via this forum, but I have to tell you that this is a valuable tool in taking charge of my health and that I believe that its usefulness could be of value to others.

Although I have used many electronic cuff devices in the past, this is one of the worst at providing accurate readings.

Firstly, the cuff is not adequate for very small or larger wrists and the readings are often lower than what you would get if the blood pressure were taken manually the traditional way.

In a clinical setting, it is important that you get adequate readings so that the patient can receive the proper treatment based on their readings. It is imperative since you may or may not give medication depending on what you recive via the blood pressure measurement. I have taken a blood pressure manually after getting what I considered a questionable reading only to discover that the wrist blood pressure was far too low and more aggressive measures had to be taken because of the data that was retrieved the old fashioned way. Imagine had I taken the initial reading as truth and the patient may have had a stroke as a result.

As a rule, I never recommend using these devices for at home use because of the risk of false readings. Many people who suffer from hypertension feel that this is a good way of monitoring their blood pressure when in actuality it is giving them a false sense of security.

If you are considering buying this product for at home use or for use in a clinical setting, please ask your doctor or nurse for their opinions.

I purchased this unit and was dissatisfied with comparisons I made at the doctor's office. I next purchased an Omron arm unit and found the results to be more valid and reliable. The wrist unit is very cool, but did not live up to Consumer Reports suggestion that it had acceptable validity. I'm technically savvy, an excellent instructions follower, and really wanted to like this unit, but I cannot recommend it. Skip the cool wrist unit and get an arm unit if at all possible.

There truly is an art to taking blood pressure. It's even written about in the old versions of diagnosis books about how to take both systolic and diastolic pressures with a regular cuff and no stethescope (palpating a DIASTOLIC and a systolic)...a handy skill in a busy emergency room or the back of an ambulance where the noise level can make a stethescope worth about as much as a surfer's neckless.

I tell you this to try and make it plain that I've looked at the nuances of taking a blood pressure, am no slouch, and have taken many blood pressures in life threatening situations, so that hopefully you'll listen to what I'm about to recommend...

First, the cuff must be large enough when taking a blood pressure or the reading can be innacurrate (falsely elevated if cuff too small). If I'm taking the blood pressure for someone who has a large arm and I'm in a tight and don't have a cuff that's large enough, I'll listen at the wrist (with a normal sized cuff on the forearm and a stethescope at the wrist). But, if I have a cuff that fits properly, taking blood pressure on the upper arm is more accurate.

I'd recommend you stay away from wrist cuffs unless there's some reason you can't take an upper arm value. While relying on a automatic wrist cuff, I've seen many patients led into thinking their blood pressure's normal when it's not. I would never trust an automatic wrist cuff for an important clinical decision.

I don't normally write negative reviews but I feel strongly about this one, don't settle for second best unless you must. Yes, it takes a little longer to expose the arm, but it's worth it for the most accurate value. If there's some reason you can't expose your upper arm (such cases do exist) then this cuff may be the answer.

See my book reviews and web site for more specific advice on how to lower your blood pressure.

Peace & Health,

Charles Runels, MD