This year, my father’s doctor has repeated a simple request. “Please take better care of your health, Mr Issa.” Every appointment ends with the same plea, and yet every day, Mr Isssa (aka my 72-year-old father) stubbornly ignores it. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and gave him the Withings BeamO, a four-in-one device that looks like a fancy themometer – but promises to do more than just check your temperature. And, hand on my (now-less-stressed) heart, this little gadget might just be the reason he finally started listening.
Calling the Withings BeamO a thermometer is like referring to a Porsche as just another car. Forget the old school mercury situation of the 1980s. This is a 4-in-1 health powerhouse that fits in your pocket and delivers clinical-grade readings in under 60 seconds. Temperature? Check. Heart rate and atrial fibrillation monitoring via a 1-lead ECG? Check. Blood oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter? Check. Heart and lung sounds through a digital stethoscope? Check. It’s essentially a mini health clinic that travels wherever you go, and the best part is it supports up to eight users – making it perfect for families juggling everyone’s wellbeing.
For my father (to clarify: Not the young gentleman in the feature image above, who still looks like the runs marathons on a regular basis. Dad is definitely not in his weight lifting era), the most used feature has been the heart rate monitoring. He’s always dismissed his mild palpitations, chalking them up to “stress” or “too much coffee.” But BeamO’s ECG feature has given him tangible, easy-to-understand insights. He can see his heart rate instantly, and the device even flags atrial fibrillation, giving him – and me – peace of mind that we’re not just guessing about his health. It’s clear, precise, and, importantly, actionable. He now checks his readings like clockwork, a habit I never thought I’d see him adopt willingly. And, honestly, one that has helped alleviate my own rising stress levels just a tad. (Confirmed when I used the BeamO to check!)
Beyond the heart rate, BeamO’s contactless temperature readings and blood oxygen monitoring provide a full picture of overall health. Following this year’s intense flu season, having these insights at home has been reassuring, especially knowing that Dad can share his data with his doctor through the HealthLink feature. It’s like bringing the doctor’s office into our living room, minus the waiting room magazines.
BeamO’s design deserves a shoutout too. Compact, sleek, and smartphone-sized, it’s approachable without feeling clinical. Even tech-wary parents like mine can navigate the device easily, and the Withings app keeps track of trends over time, adding a layer of motivation he never knew he needed.
In short, BeamO has turned my dad from a health skeptic into a proactive participant in his own care. If you’re looking for a way to stay on top of your family’s health – especially those stubborn family members who “don’t need gadgets” – BeamO might just be the future of home health. For us, it’s been a small device making a huge difference.
Available in in Australia at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Harvey Norman, and Amazon.com.au for $499, the Withings BeamO also comes with a three-month Withings+ subscription, making it an even more compelling companion for your family’s wellbeing journey. (And, finally, something my dad might listen to !)