Diastolic blood pressure, commonly referred to as the “bottom number” of blood pressure, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. For instance, if a blood pressure reading is 120/80, then 80 is the diastolic blood pressure.
It plays a crucial role in assessing overall cardiovascular health, as sustained high diastolic blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. In the 19th century, the invention of the sphygmomanometer by Samuel Siegfried Karl von Basch allowed for the measurement of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, leading to a deeper understanding of blood pressure dynamics and its implications for health.
