Medical Term Definition
Cardiovascular Disease
A broad group of diseases affecting the heart, blood vessels, or both.
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and certain heart rhythm or structural disorders. Many cardiovascular diseases are influenced by factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, abnormal blood lipids, physical inactivity, and genetics.
Cardiovascular disease is a broad category rather than one specific diagnosis.
QUICK FACT
Cardiovascular disease includes diseases of blood vessels as well as diseases of the heart.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Heart disease: often used to refer specifically to diseases affecting the heart, although terminology can overlap.
SEE ALSO
Clinical & Educational Context
Discussed in Health Articles & Guides
Explore how "Cardiovascular Disease" is covered across our evidence-based editorial guides:
3 Articles
The Hard Parts of Medicine
Preventing Heart Disease and Cancer One of the most common reasons people take supplements is to prevent major diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The Hard Parts of Medicine
A person living with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease may need several treatments because each medicine serves a different purpose.
Health in the Wild
Research reviewed by WHO links environmental noise exposure with several health outcomes, including: Sleep disturbance Annoyance and reduced quality of life Hearing impairment and...
