Put simply, they track the time taken for blood to move between two arterial sites (pulse transit time), which correlates with blood pressure. This data is sent to Garmin Connect alongside stats from your sports watch and other devices, and is used to help calculate stats such as your Fitness Age. She’s a UK Athletics qualified run leader, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than lacing up her shoes and hitting the roads and trails (the muddier, the better), usually wearing at least two sports watches. However, high blood pressure (hypertension) is often referred to as 'the silent killer' due to the lack of symptoms in its early stages, and the device could provide an early warning that's worth raising with your doctor. Unfortunately, we’ll have to live with that bulk for a while since it’s not yet clear how suitable smartwatches are for blood pressure monitoring.

Garmin finally adds manual blood pressure entry in Connect Garmin finally adds manual blood pressure entry in Connect

Through the Garmin Connect app, users can also view their measurement history and trends alongside other health stats, set up reminders to take their blood pressure and view those readings in 7-day, 4-week and 1-year reports.

Blood pressure monitors measure the pressure in this vessel at the peak of the heart’s contraction (systole) giving a systolic blood pressure and at the point where the heart is most relaxed (diastole) to provide a diastolic blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic measurements will be shown on a digital display and the cuff will operate like many other competitors ie with an inflatable cuff. Beyond that, the average person will find that the Index BPM takes blood pressure competently and can track your blood pressure readings for a prolonged period.

Index™ BPM Clinical Validation | Garmin Index™ BPM Clinical Validation | Garmin

Enter the PIN displayed on the scale’s screen for verification, then select your Wi-Fi network and enter your password. Will you then be able to enter a manual blood pressure measurement into Garmin Connect, like with weight? The Index BPM enables users to record and track serial blood pressure readings and export their data to healthcare providers or the Garmin connect app.A discreet pattern of lines helps you position your feet correctly, and buttons underneath allow you to switch between imperial and metric units, and reset the scale. It might seem like a bit of a niche case, but if you use your watch or cycle computer for navigation, you’re likely to find yourself using the online dashboard quite often, and having stats from the scales handy when planning your weekly workouts could be a real bonus. Household Wi-Fi can be used to link blood pressure readings to Garmin Connect where you can view measurement history and trends in 7-day, 4-week and 1-year reports. It’s unclear whether you can update the device firmware via the app, but the current software on the Index BPM is 1.

Garmin Index™ BPM Smart Blood Pressure Monitor

The compact, all-in-one upper arm blood pressure monitor features an integrated display so readings can be viewed immediately after they’re taken.

The Garmin Index BPM Smart Blood Pressure Monitor allows users to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure and syncs that data with the Garmin Connect mobile app that also syncs with Garmin devices like smartwatches, chest straps, smart scales, and bike computers. In the Garmin Connect app, you can set up profile details including name, age, weight, and height, and track your BP, which is available in the “Health” and “Daily Summary” sections of Garmin Connect. The newly added documentation stated that stats and advice from the device are based on advice from the American Heart Association, and aren't intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Users should evaluate their personal health condition before use and seek the professional advice of their physician.

Garmin Index S2 review | TechRadar Garmin Index S2 review | TechRadar

A few users on Reddit, from Germany, Denmark and the US, have noticed that Garmin Connect is now allowing them to enter blood pressure readings. The Garmin Index S2 is a superb smart scale, particularly for athletes with long-terms fitness goals in mind. Contextually, rival health company Withings announced its first blood pressure monitor capable of connecting to an iPhone back in 2011. I've been using an excellent Withings BP monitor, but since I am so embedded into the Garmin ecosystem I wanted to either include my Withings readings or have Garmin launch its own so I almost feel like this was made to answer my request. Additionally, users can use Wi-Fi ® technology to sync their Index BPM blood pressure readings to Garmin Connect.Garmin Connect can build a comprehensive health profile with digital insights that can help you tailor your fitness routines. It's expensive though, and if you're not going to use all of the Garmin Connect app's extra features then you might be better off with a cheaper smart scale from the likes of FitTrack or Withings. Like Garmin’s Index S2 smart scale, the Index BPM is made in China rather than Taiwan, where Garmin manufactures most of its products.