What is systolic blood pressure?

Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood out into the body. This contraction phase, known as systole, generates the highest pressure within the arteries, which is crucial for circulating blood effectively throughout the body. Monitoring systolic pressure is vital for assessing cardiovascular health, as it helps to determine the force that the heart exerts on the arterial walls during each heartbeat.

The other options describe different phases or averages of blood pressure. The pressure when the heart is relaxed refers to diastolic blood pressure, while the pressure during diastole specifically indicates the low point of pressure just before the next contraction. Additionally, averaging over one cycle reflects the overall reading of both systolic and diastolic pressures, rather than focusing solely on the systolic reading. Understanding the distinction between these terms is essential in health care, particularly in monitoring and diagnosing potential health issues related to blood pressure.