Our world as God made it was indeed good, and man was created perfect, with not a trace of sickness or disability. Through thousands of years of sin and degradation, sickness has come to be a lot for many of us.

And for a vast majority of the world, heart disease is the number one culprit. It is responsible for billions of dollars in lost productivity, premature disability, death, health care costs, and medications.

Nevertheless, God has provided help for those who are willing to choose to follow His way and sacrifice personal preferences, habits, and inclinations.

The world has designated February a month for emphasis on Heart Health. So today we're introducing a series on heart disease - what it is, and how it can be prevented and/or reversed.

We start with a promise from God found in Deuteronomy 7:15. “And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee…"

Heart disease comprises several heart conditions and is a major cause of death and disability. It is the number one cause of death worldwide- and is preventable. And contrary to popular belief, it is also highly reversible.

There are multiple contributors to heart disease:

1. Food Choices.
2.Heredity
3. Obesity
4. Harmful social habits including smoking and drinking alcohol
5. Poorly managed stress

In either case, the cause is generally fatty deposits and inflammation, and the result is damage and death of important structures. Death of heart tissue is referred to as a heart attack.

Signs and Symptoms of heart disease
In most cases, there may be no signs or symptoms of heart disease until a massive heart attack occurs. However, the most common symptoms include:

1. Chest pain
2. Shortness of breath when active
3. Dizziness
4. Heart palpitations
5. Swelling of ankles/ legs

Effects of heart disease 
Heart disease if not successfully treated, eventually leads to heart failure, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and/or death.

Treatment of Heart Disease

Conventional medical treatment includes a variety of drugs that treat high blood pressure, improve the ability of the heart to contract, increase the excretion of fluid, or control the heart rate, all with the goal of optimizing heart function. Unfortunately, along with the intended benefits, most pharmaceutical drugs have side effects that can be harmful and can cause new problems.

So many cardiologists and other medical practitioners are encouraging people to choose lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity. For many people, the optimal diet is a whole-food plant-based diet. This plan of eating includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes and avoids animal products.

'Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.' Proverbs 4:23

--Vanessa Miller, MD