Diastolic Pressure vs. Heart Rate: Understanding the Difference

Diastolic pressure and heart rate are not equal. Diastolic pressure refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle is resting between beats. It is the lower of the two numbers in a blood pressure reading and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Heart rate, on the other hand, refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute. It is measured in beats per minute (bpm).