Your blood pressure (Measured im mmHg) varies as your heart beats. This can be shown as a graph. Here is an example:
|
P | ____ -- Systolic pressure
R | / | \___
E | / | \__
S | / | \__
S |-------/----+-----------\___------- -- Mean pressure
U | / | \____
R | / | -- Pulsed pressure \_____
E | / | \__
| ___/ -- Diastolic pressure \__
+----------------------------------------------
T I M E
Diastolic pressure is the pressure when the heart is at rest.
Systolic pressure is 'Peak presure', i.e. when the heart is beating.
Mean pressure is the average level of pressure.
Pulsed pressure is the difference between Diastolic and Systolic.