What the screen shows, top to bottom
- Systolic pressure (SYS) in mmHg
- Diastolic pressure (DIA) in mmHg
- Pulse value (PULSE /min), beside the pulse symbol
- Time and date, user symbol 1-4, and the classification bar
Symbols you may see
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pulse symbol | Shown next to the calculated pulse value. |
| Cardiac arrhythmia symbol | Flashes after the measurement if the monitor detected possible irregularities in the heart rhythm; Sanitas asks you to rest five minutes and repeat the measurement. |
| AVG | The average of the three most recent readings in the selected user memory; it is shown only once three readings are stored. |
| Pump up / release air arrow | Shows whether the cuff is inflating or deflating. |
| WHO classification bar | The bar on the display and the scale on the unit show the manufacturer's classification range for the reading. It is separate from the numbers you log. |
| Battery replacement symbol | Appears together with four warning tones when the batteries are too low to take a measurement. |
| User symbols 1, 2, 3, 4 | The user memory the reading is saved to. |
| Err | The measurement could not be performed - for example inflation above 300 mmHg, an unusually high or low pressure, or moving and talking during the measurement. |
Stored readings and averages
Four user memories store 30 readings each, saved with date and time; the oldest are lost once a memory is full. Select a memory with SET and the -/+ buttons, then press M+ to see AVG, the average of the three most recent readings; + steps to the newest readings and - to the oldest. The time is shown in 12-hour format with AM/PM.
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 arrow has stopped and all three values are up; the device switches off after three minutes.
- Check the user symbol (1-4) is in frame so the reading is filed under the right person.
- Capture the whole display if you want the arrhythmia symbol recorded - it flashes, so take two shots to be sure one catches it.
- Keep the phone level with the display; the segment display dims sharply from oblique angles.
How do I know which user memory an SBM 21 reading went into?
Look for the user symbol 1, 2, 3 or 4 on the display; it shows the memory selected with SET and the -/+ buttons before measuring. Each memory holds 30 readings with date and time, so a household of up to four can share the monitor if everyone checks the number first. When copying to a log, keep each user's readings separate and transfer them before the oldest entries are overwritten.
What is AVG and should I record it?
AVG is the average of the three most recent readings in the selected user memory, shown when you press M+, and it appears only once three readings are stored. Record individual readings as your main log and add AVG as a labelled extra if it is useful. Monitor2Log lets you photograph the display or your paper log and check every number before saving, so the average and the single readings stay clearly separated.
The arrhythmia symbol flashed after my measurement - what goes in the log?
Write down the systolic, diastolic and pulse values exactly as shown, then add a note that the symbol flashed. Sanitas' instructions say to rest for five minutes without talking or moving and measure again, so log the repeat reading as well and mark which one showed the symbol. The manufacturer also suggests mentioning frequent appearances to your doctor, which a dated log makes easy.