Knowledge center. Cardiovascular diseases include illnesses that involve the blood vessels (veins, arteries and capillaries) or the heart, or both-diseases that affect the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system, also called the circulatory system, is the system that moves blood throughout the human body.It is composed of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. It transports oxygenated blood from the lungs and heart throughout the whole body through the arteries.xamples of diseases that affect the cardiovascular system. 1  Cardiac diseases (Heart diseases) - examples include: - 2  Angina (considered as both a cardiac and vascular disease). - 3  Arrhythmia (problems with the heartbeat, irregular heartbeat). - 4  Congenital heart disease. - 5  Coronary artery disease (CAD).