Noun | 1. | ![]() cardiovascular disease - a disease of the heart or blood vessels essential hypertension, hyperpiesia, hyperpiesis - persistent and pathological high blood pressure for which no specific cause can be found malignant hypertension - severe hypertension that runs a rapid course and damages the inner linings of the blood vessels and the heart and spleen and kidneys and brain; "malignant hypertension is the most lethal form of hypertension" secondary hypertension - hypertension that is secondary to another disease white-coat hypertension - temporary rise in blood pressure in the doctor's office hypotension - abnormally low blood pressure |