The Garmin Index BPM is a simple device when compared to many other Garmin gadgets. It’s been designed to measure your systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as your heart rate using the attached foldable cuff. This is certainly nothing new as home blood pressure monitors have been used for years now. The interesting part of this device is that it doesn’t just show you the results on a built-in screen but also sends them over WiFi to your Garmin Connect account.
Is the Index BPM accurate and reliable?
Garmin made sure that nobody has any doubts about this gadget from an accuracy perspective. They validated it in a clinical trial. Officially, the Index BPM has an accuracy of +/- 3 mmHg or 2% of readout value for blood pressure value and +/- 5% of readout value for pulse. This is on par with many other devices for measuring blood pressure at home.
Looking at reviews, many people report that when compared to popular Omron devices, the readouts are indeed very similar. Still, if your readings are suspiciously high or low, it’s best to consult with your doctor. They can confirm whether the same numbers are showing up on their blood pressure device. If not, then they can help you determine where on your arm you should place the Garmin monitor to get the most accurate readings.
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Do people like using the Garmin Index BPM?
Now, let’s take a look at more reviews and see what people like and dislike about using the Garmin Index BPM most often.
Pros
- It’s easy to use and set up and use.
- It has solid build quality and sturdy design.
- You can export PDF reports of blood pressure readings to share with your doctor.
- There is an anonymous profile so that you can take blood pressure of your friends or family members without having their measurements synced to your Garmin account.
Cons
- It’s relatively expensive compared to other blood pressure monitors on the market.
- Some consider the device bulky.
- The cuff can be difficult to put on one handed because it slides around. You may have to use your chin to hold it in place as they tighten the cuff.
Should you buy the Index BPM?
It’s clear that the main attraction is that the data uploads automatically to your Garmin Connect. You don’t have to worry about writing it down or losing your notes. You will always have your entire blood pressure history accessible in your app. If you already are a Garmin user with a lot of data in the Garmin Connect that regularly measures blood pressure for health reasons and this ease of use is appealing to you, then the Index BPM may be a great fit for you.
But there is a significant problem with the value proposition of this device. Thet’s because you can manually input blood pressure measurements into your Garmin Connect. So, if you already have a BPM device you’re using and don’t mind the extra step of typing the measurements in your Garmin app manually, you don’t really need the Index BPM from Garmin to have your data catalogued in your account.
