What is systolic pressure?

Systolic pressure is defined as the maximum arterial pressure that occurs during the contraction of the heart's left ventricle. When the left ventricle contracts, it pumps blood into the aorta, leading to a peak in blood pressure within the arteries. This peak is what is measured as systolic pressure.

In contrast, during the relaxation phase of the heart, known as diastole, blood pressure decreases and reaches its lowest point, which is referred to as diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is an important measure because it reflects how hard the heart is working to pump blood and is a critical indicator of cardiovascular health.

Understanding systolic pressure in this way helps to clarify its significance in the context of blood measurements and the overall functioning of the cardiovascular system.