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Diastolic Blood Pressure

Diastolic pressure is the pressure of blood against the artery walls between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. It is the second or lower number in a blood pressure reading.

For example, if the diastolic pressure is 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and the systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg, the blood pressure is recorded as 120/80 and read as "120 over 80."

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology
Last Revised April 5, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 05, 2011
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