What the screen shows, top to bottom
- Systolic pressure (SYS) in mmHg
- Diastolic pressure (DIA) in mmHg
- Calculated pulse value
- Time and date of the measurement, and the user memory (1-4) it was saved to
Symbols you may see
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cardiac arrhythmia symbol | Shown when the monitor detected irregularities in the pulse during the measurement; Beurer advises repeating the measurement. |
| Cuff position control | Displayed throughout the measurement. If the cuff is too tight or too loose it appears together with E3 and the measurement is cancelled after about five seconds. |
| Pulse symbol | Appears as soon as a pulse is found during the measurement. |
| Release air symbol | Shows while the cuff pressure is being released. |
| Risk indicator | A bar chart on the display, matching the scale printed on the unit, that Beurer maps to its own classification table. It is separate from the numbers you record. |
| User memory symbol | Shows which of the four user memories the reading is stored in. |
| Memory display symbols | Markers for the average value, the morning average and the evening average, plus the memory space number, when reviewing stored readings. |
| Battery replacement symbol | When shown permanently, no more measurements can be taken until the four AA batteries are replaced. |
| Error messages E1-E6 | E1 pulse not recorded correctly, E2 no measurement possible, E3 cuff fastened too tightly or loosely, E4 error during measurement, E5 pump pressure above 300 mmHg, E6 system error (contact Customer Services). |
Stored readings and averages
Every successful reading is saved with date and time in one of four user memories holding 30 readings each; the oldest are lost once a memory is full. Press M to choose a user memory, then + to step through the average of all stored values, the morning average (5-9 a.m.) and evening average (6-8 p.m.) for the last seven days, and finally the individual readings with their date and time.
How to take a reading you can trust
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat, and rest for five minutes before you start.
- Cuff at heart level on bare skin, arm resting on a table — the same arm every time.
- Take two readings a minute apart and write both down; don't pick the one you prefer.
- Note the time and anything unusual — before or after medication, feeling unwell — next to the numbers.
Photographing this display for a scan
- Photograph once the systolic, diastolic and pulse values are all showing and the release-air symbol has gone; the device switches itself off after about three minutes.
- In memory view the display turns off after about 30 seconds of inactivity, so have the camera ready before pressing M.
- Frame the whole screen so the user-memory number and the arrhythmia symbol, if present, are visible along with the risk-indicator bar.
- Avoid a sideways angle: the bar chart and small symbols at the edge of the display are the first things to become unreadable.
What do the morning and evening averages on the BM 27 mean for my log?
They are seven-day averages the monitor calculates from readings taken between 5 and 9 a.m. and between 6 and 8 p.m. respectively, each marked with its own symbol in memory view. They are handy summaries, but record your individual readings as well, since averages hide single unusual values and only include readings taken inside those windows. Note the symbol when you copy an average so it isn't mistaken for a single measurement.
Which reading do I record if E3 or the cuff-position symbol appears?
None - E3 means the cuff was fastened too tightly or too loosely, and the monitor cancels the measurement after about five seconds. Re-fit the cuff so two fingers fit underneath, wait at least a minute, and measure again. Only the completed reading, showing all three values, belongs in your log. Monitor2Log lets you photograph the display or your paper log and check every number before saving, so an error attempt never slips in.
Can four people share the BM 27 and keep their readings apart?
Yes. The BM 27 has four user memories with 30 spaces each; after a measurement press M to choose the memory it is saved to, otherwise it goes into the last-used one. Check the user symbol before you record a reading so it ends up in the right person's log. Since each memory holds only 30 readings, copy them into a longer-term record before the oldest are overwritten.