What the screen shows, top to bottom
- Systolic pressure (SYS) - the upper number, in mmHg
- Diastolic pressure (DIA) - the number beneath it, in mmHg
- Pulse rate in beats per minute, shown after the measurement
- Guide symbols (cuff wrap, body movement, irregular heartbeat) appear beside the numbers when relevant
Symbols you may see
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cuff wrap guide | Lights during inflation to tell you whether the cuff was wrapped correctly. If it flags a loose cuff, re-wrap it and measure again before logging. |
| Body movement symbol | Appears with the result if you moved or talked during the measurement. OMRON's manual asks you to keep still and repeat, so a reading with this symbol is worth re-taking rather than saving. |
| Irregular heartbeat symbol | Shown with the result when the monitor detected an irregular rhythm while measuring. The numbers are still displayed normally; note the symbol in your log if it appears. |
| E2 | Error shown when you moved or talked so the cuff could not inflate enough. No reading is produced, so there is nothing to record - sit still and measure again. |
| Er | The monitor has malfunctioned. Press START/STOP again; if 'Er' stays on, OMRON asks you to contact your retailer or distributor. |
| Low battery / depleted battery symbols | The battery symbol flashes when the four AA batteries are running low; a solid depleted-battery symbol means the monitor may switch off mid-measurement until they are replaced. |
Stored readings and averages
The M3 Comfort stores up to 60 readings for each of two users (OMRON lists no averaging function for this model). Stored readings are recalled from the monitor's memory as described in Instruction Manual 2; each shows the systolic, diastolic and pulse values that were on screen at the 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
- Wait until the cuff has fully deflated and all three numbers plus any guide symbols are steady before photographing.
- Shoot straight on, level with the screen - ceiling lights and windows reflect off the display at shallow angles.
- Include the whole screen, not just the big numbers, so the cuff-wrap and body-movement symbols are visible in the image.
- The monitor switches itself off if left idle, so photograph the result first and remove the cuff afterwards.
Which number on the OMRON M3 Comfort do I write down first?
Log the systolic (upper) value first, then the diastolic value, then the pulse - for example 128 / 82, pulse 71. Add the date, time and which arm you used, and note whether any symbol such as body movement or irregular heartbeat appeared with the reading. Monitor2Log lets you photograph the display or your paper log and check every number before saving, so the entry matches exactly what the monitor showed.
What should I do with a reading that shows the body-movement or cuff-wrap symbol?
Treat it as a practice run rather than a record. OMRON's manual says the movement symbol means you moved or talked, and the cuff-wrap guide flags a loosely wrapped cuff; both can distort the numbers. Sit quietly, re-wrap the cuff one to two centimetres above the elbow, wait a few minutes and measure again, then log the clean result. If you do keep the first reading, mark the symbol next to it.
Does the M3 Comfort remember readings for two people?
Yes. The monitor holds up to 60 readings for each of two users, so a couple can share it as long as each person selects their own user before measuring. Because the memory eventually overwrites the oldest entries, copy readings into your log regularly - weekly works for most people - and keep each person's readings in a separate log so averages and trends are not mixed.