Which type of blood pressure measurement indicates the pressure during heart contraction?

Systolic blood pressure is the measurement that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting, specifically during the phase of the cardiac cycle known as systole. During this phase, the heart pumps blood out into the aorta and systemic circulation, creating a peak in arterial pressure. This value is crucial in assessing cardiovascular health, as higher systolic pressures can indicate increased risk for conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

In contrast, diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats, which occurs during diastole. Pulse pressure, defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, provides insight into the health of the cardiovascular system but does not indicate pressure during heart contraction. Lastly, mean arterial pressure is an average pressure in the arteries during one cardiac cycle, but it does not specifically reflect the pressure at the point of heart contraction like systolic blood pressure does.