What does diastolic blood pressure measure?

Diastolic blood pressure specifically measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. This stage of the cardiac cycle is crucial because it reflects the minimum pressure to which the arteries are exposed before the next contraction of the heart. Understanding this aspect of blood pressure is important for assessing overall cardiovascular health. It occurs after the heart has pumped blood out during systole, allowing for an assessment of how well the arteries are able to maintain pressure during the relaxation phase. In contrast, the other options either misrepresent the timing of pressure measurement or refer to different biological aspects that are not specifically related to diastolic pressure. This distinction is key in clinical practice, where diastolic measures can impact diagnoses and treatment plans for conditions such as hypertension.