Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor Model HEM - 711

The Omron HEM - 711 is one of a group of closely related 'automatic' sphygmomamometers that share the same basic engineering, sold under the Omron name (Omron Healthcare, Inc.). These are all designed to allow individuals to measure their own blood pressures without assistance from anyone else. The cuffs inflate and deflate automatically and the systolic (pulse, or 'upper' number) and diastolic (lower pressure between contractions) is measured and displayed on the screen. The pulse rate (beats/minute) is also displayed. Very handy; very useful, but does it provide information that is accurate enough to rely on for critical medical decisions? That is the principal question that I shall try to address in this review.

When I first learned to take blood pressure measurements (in medical school, many years ago) there were no automatic cuffs. Sphygmos came in two basic types, the mercury column desk or wall variety, and the smaller, portable type that sported a dial with a needle that provided the pressure readings. The systolic and diastolic were measured through the sounds of the blood in the arteries by a stethoscope applied to the inner arm, just under the crook of the elbow. The devices were very accurate, the main source of variation came from the person who was taking the pressure and possible differences in the precise points (sounds) that were used to signal the two points. When automatic meters arrived, they were considered to be, and actually were, notoriously inaccurate. Small differences in placement of the cuff, position of the arm, and other variables, generally uncontrollable by the operator, produced widely varying results. Moreover, the machines seemed fragile, temperamental, inconsistent in even providing readings, and, in general, condemned by those medical practitioners who needed accurate and reliable blood pressures as part of their practices. As I am not one of those practitioners, my major source of attitudes concerning these devices came from my personal physicians, all of whom, over the years, have counseled the use of the old fashioned, hand inflated devices. There are some of these designed for use by one person; besides which, my wife is a (reformed and retired) R.N. who would be willing to pump me up at any time (sic). But I am a really poor patient, whose compliance is less than perfect; so, a number of years back, I acquired one of the automatic cuffs. It did not take long to learn that my internist had been right. This cuff worked only sometimes, was wildly erratic, and broke within six months.

I concede, readily, that a reasonable person would have been dissuaded from making this mistake again. Well, conclude as you wish, it was not too long before I tried a different brand. Same result. Okay, after a little consumer research (my only excuse) I acquired the Omron - 711 that is the subject of this review. That was over five years ago. To presage the result of this inexplicable stubbornness (or love of gimmicks), this machine is currently at my elbow, and is in perfect working order. After more than five years, I feel entitled to share my experiences with and my opinion of this device. Let me start with: it's a gem. The rest of the story.

The Omron - 711 is about the size of a rather thick paperback novel, slightly over six by four inches. The model I got, apparently as a special, because I now see these on the shelves without these appurtenances, came with both a standard sized and an oversized cuff. It was also packaged with a transformer to convert the battery (four AA cells) to AC power. I was pleased with this because I dislike the process of discovering that batteries are dead or dying just as I wish to use a device. I never use the transformer. In the five years of use, I can remember changing the batteries only twice. As this seems downright impossible, given reasonably frequent use, I am willing to believe that I have simply forgotten some of these replacements. But, be that as it may, the battery life is somewhat beyond excellent. This is a big plus in my book.

After initially coming to terms with cuff size, I have never experienced a failure of this machine to work. With a hand cuff, I sometimes don't hear the points, in other words, operator failure occasionally occurs. Not, however, in my experience with this model. If the simple (included) instructions are followed, the machine has always done its part. None of this would matter if the readings it produced were unreliable or inaccurate. They are reliable and accurate. When I first bought the Omron - 711, I calibrated it against my old, reliable, hand sphygmomanometer. In addition, I checked its reliability of readings with different people across a wide range of pressures. It remained within about two points, time after time. To say I was surprised strongly underestimates my reaction. I am still surprised. Moreover, I have no credible explanation. Did I happen to get an unusual, super example of this product? Is mine the other end of the spectrum from a 'lemon'? It's easy to make a 'lemon,' but it seems rather difficult to believe that one machine on a mass production line, could come out so unusual an example. I recommended this cuff to some friends who are in private medical practices and discovered that one was already using it with results similar to mine. I simply must conclude that this is a very good product.

I have no stock in this company or any financial interest whatsoever. My only interest is in accurate public health information (I was an Adjunct Professor of Public Health before retiring from all teaching.) So, no matter how much this sounds as though it were an advertisement -- it's not; I am just impressed with the quality of this product.

Okay, what else? This model has a fourteen reading memory, no printer port, and an easy to read dial. The Omron HEM - 711 also sports a feature called 'intelliSense.' I am usually unimpressed with gimmicks of this sort, but this one is actually useful. What it does, is estimate the pressure from the last few readings and pump the cuff only enough to accommodate that reading. This spares the user from an unnecessary and uncomfortable pressure during use. As I said at the beginning of this review (many words ago), this is one of a group of similar products. They vary primarily in features (printer, IntelliSense, AC converter, and size). This particular product has a useful combination of these features. It does not have a printer, but this is very minor. I can still write.

I am a hypertensive diabetic who has had several TIA's (mini-strokes) and in moderate to severe renal failure. (Boy, do I sound like a mess.) I need an accurate monitoring of my blood pressure. Quite literally, my life depends on it. Despite a long term prejudice against the automatic cuff, I use this cuff all of the time. I haven't, however, had the guts to tell my internist. She'll fuss at me.