What is the term for the blood pressure value when the heart is at rest?

Diastolic blood pressure is the term used to describe the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. During this phase, the heart is refilling with blood and is not actively pumping, which allows for a decrease in arterial pressure. This value is typically the lower number in a blood pressure reading and is crucial for understanding overall cardiovascular health. It reflects the minimum pressure in the arteries and helps in assessing the heart's ability to relax and fill adequately.

Systolic blood pressure, on the other hand, represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and is actively pumping blood. Mean arterial pressure provides an average pressure that drives blood through the circulatory system, and pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures. Each of these values serves a unique purpose in cardiovascular assessment, making it essential to differentiate between them.