Cardiovascular disease is a general term used to describe a range of disorders that affect the heart. Cardiovascular disease, which is also called heart disease, is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States.The term cardiovascular disease encompasses diseases of the blood vessels, including coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems, or arrhythmias; heart infections; and congenital heart defects. Narrowing of the blood vessels is a common form of heart disease.