Oura has garnered quite some fame for its cutting-edge, jewelry-like smart wearables, similar to an ordinary wedding band in dimensions. Oura Ring allows users to monitor various aspects of their health, including heart rate, body temperature, sleep, and even track their fitness journey and help reach goals. One question many often ask about the Oura Ring is whether it can also track blood pressure.
Spoiler alert: The Oura Ring doesn’t track blood pressure. In fact, those wanting to measure and keep track of their blood pressure throughout the day are better off investing in a digital blood pressure cuff. Although patents have been floating around about capturing BP readings on a non-cuff smart wearable since 2021, no mainstream brands have yet pulled off such a technological feat.
Chances are you’ve been considering purchasing the Oura Ring, now unsure whether it’s worth the price since it doesn’t measure blood pressure. However, the ring offers other features that can provide valuable insights into your overall health and well-being, some of which we’ll cover in this article and help you decide.
Does Oura Ring Track Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries as it’s pumped around the body. It’s typically measured using a blood pressure cuff that inflates to restrict blood flow and then records the pressure as it is released.
High blood pressure or hypertension can increase one’s risk of developing long-term health conditions and is the primary cause of coronary artery and kidney disease, stroke, sleep apnea, etc. It deteriorates your health in several ways. Hence, it’s essential to go for blood pressure screening as part of your general healthcare routine.
Your nearest pharmacy, health resource fair, or grocery store may offer public blood pressure machines to get a relatively accurate screening at no cost, but what about the Oura Ring?
Despite its cutting-edge sensors that can measure 20 different biometric signals, the 3rd-gen Oura Ring can’t estimate your blood pressure. However, it offers in-depth insights into other health metrics, giving you a clear idea of your overall well-being, such as:
- Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
- Resting Heart Rate
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- Respiratory Rate
- Skin Temperature
- Nocturnal Movement
- Sleep Stage (Deep, REM, Light)
If your physician has diagnosed you with high blood pressure and advised you to keep a record of your BP at home and throughout the day, you should get a clinical-grade blood pressure cuff instead.
Read: Oura Ring vs Fitbit: Which One Is Best?
Does Oura Ring Track Activities?
Besides measuring and monitoring various health metrics, Oura Ring features sensors that track your daily activities. It then syncs all the collected data to the companion Oura mobile app to generate detailed graphs and estimate three daily scores (Activity, Readiness, and Sleep) to give you a holistic picture of your health. The Activity score, for instance, is based on factors such as:
- Step Count
- Burnt Calories
- Daytime / Workout Heart Rate
- Activity Levels
- Training / Workout Frequency
- Sleep Duration / Number of Naps
Oura Ring goes even further to dynamically adjust your daily goals based on your day-to-day scores to prioritize rest and recovery. It can also provide reminders to help you reach your daily activity goals and improve your alertness and stamina.
So, although it can’t measure blood pressure, the Oura Ring still provides a comprehensive overview of your health and fitness through the wide variety of metrics it tracks.
Also:
Are There Any Alternatives to Oura Ring for Blood Pressure Tracking?
The CART-I Plus ring from a South Korean-based medical wearable start-up brand, Sky Labs, which will supposedly incorporate “active blood pressure variability and nocturnal hypertension monitoring,” is due to launch sometime in 2023 in Europe and the United States. But at the time of writing, there aren’t any Oura Ring alternatives for BP tracking.
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure levels, take your physician’s recommendation before investing in a digital BP cuff. Don’t cheap out and get yourself an FDA-approved, medical-grade monitor for the most accurate readings.
Ideally, you’d want to go for the blood pressure monitor with cuffs that go around your upper arm. It’s because most wrist-based monitors at home are more prone to provide false readings due to poor positioning.
If you already have a fitness tracker or smartwatch and are looking for a digital BP monitor that auto-syncs with your preferred health-tracking platform, check out the Withings BPM Connect.
This FDA-cleared equipment offers clinical-grade blood pressure measurements (diastolic and systolic) and heart rate readings. All collected data seamlessly syncs to the Withings Health Mate mobile app and gives insightful data for you to inspect and share with your doctor. The BPM Connect has a built-in battery lasting up to six months, and you can use it without a phone too!
Read: Oura Ring Charging
Final Take
Does Oura Ring track blood pressure? No, it doesn’t. But let that not distract you from the fact that it can precisely keep track of cardiovascular health, sleep quality, menstrual cycle, and other health and fitness metrics and consolidate all the collected data into a simplified scoring system. Plus, it’s a stylish, waterproof (up to 100m/330ft.) ring you can wear on the go without anyone noticing it.
If you’re interested in tracking your blood pressure, it’s recommended that you use a dedicated blood pressure monitor or speak with a healthcare professional.