What are the two pressures that a blood pressure measures?

Blood pressure is a vital sign that indicates the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. It is measured using two important values: systolic and diastolic pressures.

Systolic pressure is the higher number recorded when the heart beats and pumps blood into the arteries, representing the peak pressure in the arteries during this phase. Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, is the lower number recorded when the heart is at rest between beats, indicating the pressure in the arteries when the heart is filling with blood.

Understanding these two measurements is essential for assessing cardiovascular health, as they help in diagnosing conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and other related disorders. Therefore, the option that correctly identifies these two pressures is the one that includes both systolic and diastolic.