What does diastolic blood pressure represent?

Diastolic blood pressure represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It specifically measures the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle, when the heart muscles are not contracting and blood fills the chambers of the heart. This is an important phase because it reflects the minimum pressure exerted on the arterial walls, indicating how well the blood flow is maintained during the resting periods of the heart.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of blood pressure or heart activity. The pressure during heart contraction refers to systolic blood pressure, which occurs when the heart is actively pumping blood. Average blood pressure might mix both systolic and diastolic values but does not specifically refer to the resting state of the heart. Maximum heart pressure, similarly, does not accurately capture the concept of diastolic pressure and might suggest a peak that occurs during contraction. Understanding diastolic blood pressure is crucial for assessing cardiovascular health and managing conditions such as hypertension.