What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure refers specifically to the force that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels, particularly large arteries, as it is pumped throughout the body by the heart. This measurement is critical because it provides insight into how well the heart is functioning, as well as the health of the blood vessels and overall cardiovascular system. Blood pressure readings are typically expressed as two values, systolic and diastolic, which indicate the pressure during heartbeats and between beats, respectively.

The role of blood pressure is crucial for understanding cardiovascular health and can help in diagnosing conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, making the definition provided by the correct answer vital in the context of fitness and health assessments.