EASY to Use Tool To Monitor Your Blood Pressure/Pulse

I got the Omron Hem-790IT about 2 months ago in December 2008 after learning that I had the beginnings of hypertension (high blood pressure).  My doctor wanted to start prescribing meds, but I asked him to let me deal with my problem by changing diet, excercising, and reducing stress.  This allowed me to do that and provide him with both data and graphs to show the history of my blood pressure/pulse.  I ended up taking meds, but much less than what my doctor originally wanted to start me on.

Easy to Use/Read
This is sooooo easy to use.  It has a huge easy to read numbers (almost 1 inch tall) for the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and another number (over 1/2 inch tall) for pulse.  It also gives a heart indicator if you are exceeding the American Heart Association's standards for blood pressure. 
Also, the cuff that you put on your arm has a 3 step EASY to use instruction with helpful pictures for placing the cuff on your arm.  You put your thumb on this thing shaped for it, wrap the cuff around your left arm, and use the velcro to secure it.  Then just push the start button.

EASY as pie!

Two Users
This Omron has a switch for user A and user B so this Omron can track 2 users.

Tracking
There are 2 ways to track your history:

1) by pushing a single button on the Omoron (turn the machine off and push the button on the bottom right), you can see every blood pressure/pulse history on the HUGE lettered screen of the Omron.  This will give you the date and time of every reading, starting with the latest one.  In my case, this is important as I usually have normal readings in the morning, but much higher ones after a day at work and the drive home.  Another eopinions reviewer said you have to program this unit - NOT unless you use the 2nd tracking method (see below).

2) by downloading the software that comes with this onto your computer, you can hook up the Omron to your computer and download all data to your computer.  Although I found this super easy and didn't need to read instructions to do this, it may be a little tricky if you aren't used to using computers - but maybe you know someone that can show you or help you.  This feature is as easy as any other standard window's-based computer program - like downloading pictures from a digital camera.

The best part of the computer download is you can see all of the data, or for any date range you specify, and better yet, you can also see it in a graph format to help you easily spot trends so you can quickly modify your behavior or let you doctor know what's going on BEFORE you wait for the next visit.  For example, my afternoon readings are always higher - so I know to eliminate things that wind me up at the end of the day.

I'm going to the doctor today for a blood pressure medication followup and am armed with lots of data from the Omron.  NOT just the one he took last month and the one he'll take today.  To me, more data makes for a better informed doctor.  Unfortunately, if you have more than 17 readings you have to print out sections of 17 readings at a time.  You cannot get a continuous printout.  Although minor, this is the only drawback I've found in 3 months of using it about 8-12 times a week.

BATTERY
You can plug the Omron in and never use a battery, or use the 4 AA batteries that last almost 2 months using it about 10 times a week.  I use the battery power as it lets me use the Omron anywhere, and then hide it in a drawer.

Another Epinion writer says that this is abusive to seniors.  I think if seniors have a younger person explain and use it with them it would become second nature after awhile.  It is perfect for me and I am thankful for this technology.  Beforehand, I had to go into the doctor or CVS pharmacy for readings.  It was a long time before I found that I had high blood pressure in the afternoons as I always scheduled my doctors appointments in the early mornings before going to work when my pressure was low.

Carrying Case
There is an attractive zippered soft case to store what I consider to be an attractive looking Omron.

This is an incredible tool to keep me healthy and I'm giving it a 5 star rating!  I can't imagine an easier to use way to track your blood pressure/pulse.