What does blood pressure measure?

Blood pressure measures the pressure of blood in the arteries, which is a critical indicator of cardiovascular health. It reflects how much force the circulating blood exerts against the walls of blood vessels, particularly the arteries, as the heart pumps. This measurement is usually recorded in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is expressed as two numbers: systolic pressure (the pressure during heartbeats) over diastolic pressure (the pressure when the heart rests between beats).

Understanding blood pressure is essential because it helps determine how well the heart and blood vessels are functioning. Consistently high or low blood pressure can indicate various health issues, such as hypertension or hypotension, affecting overall well-being.

The other options, while related to the circulatory system, do not accurately describe what blood pressure measures. For instance, the speed of blood flow pertains to circulation dynamics rather than pressure, the temperature of blood is a separate physiological measure, and the volume of blood in the body addresses a different aspect of circulatory health.