What does the lower number in a blood pressure reading indicate?

The lower number in a blood pressure reading represents the diastolic phase. This value measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats, allowing the heart to fill with blood. It reflects the resting state of the cardiovascular system and indicates how well the blood vessels are managing pressure when the heart is not actively pumping blood.

Understanding this is crucial because elevated diastolic pressure can signal issues such as increased vascular resistance or other cardiovascular problems. In contrast, the higher number in a blood pressure reading represents the systolic phase, which measures the pressure during heartbeats when the heart is contracting and pumping blood into the arteries. The average pressure option relates to the mean arterial pressure, but that is not what is specifically referenced in the lower number of the blood pressure reading. Maximum pressure correlates to the peak pressure during a heartbeat, which is again related to the systolic phase. Therefore, the diastolic phase is the definitive conclusion for interpreting the lower value.