[theme music] 00:00:00.40\00:00:05.23 It has stood the test of time. 00:00:07.30\00:00:10.33 God's book, the Bible. 00:00:12.16\00:00:15.23 Still relevant in today's complex world. 00:00:17.10\00:00:20.36 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:00:22.03\00:00:29.70 JB: I'm John Bradshaw, and this is It Is Written. 00:00:36.26\00:00:39.96 Thanks for joining me. 00:00:39.96\00:00:41.03 The Bible speaks a lot about the heart. 00:00:41.03\00:00:45.50 Now really it uses the heart to represent the mind, 00:00:45.50\00:00:48.43 and the Bible often says things like, "You shall love the Lord 00:00:48.43\00:00:51.50 your God with all your heart." 00:00:51.50\00:00:53.06 That's Matthew 22:37. 00:00:53.06\00:00:54.53 "Create in me a clean heart, O God." 00:00:54.53\00:00:57.96 Psalm 51, verse 10. 00:00:57.96\00:00:58.96 And in Jeremiah 29, verse 13, "And you will see me 00:00:58.96\00:01:02.63 and find me when you search for me with all your heart." 00:01:02.63\00:01:08.46 But in the same time, your actual physical heart 00:01:08.46\00:01:11.23 is important to God as well. 00:01:11.23\00:01:12.96 The Bible says your body is the temple of the Holy 00:01:12.96\00:01:15.63 Spirit. 00:01:15.63\00:01:16.63 You were created to be God's dwelling place. 00:01:16.63\00:01:19.33 The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6, in verse 20, 00:01:19.33\00:01:22.20 "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify 00:01:22.20\00:01:26.20 God in your body and in your spirit which are God's." 00:01:26.20\00:01:31.23 Glorify God in your body. 00:01:31.23\00:01:35.16 So let's talk about a massive physical challenge people 00:01:35.16\00:01:37.60 are having today. 00:01:37.60\00:01:38.60 Heart disease is the leading killer in the United States 00:01:38.60\00:01:41.90 and many other western countries and has been 00:01:41.90\00:01:44.73 for over 100 years. 00:01:44.73\00:01:46.13 Yet it doesn't need to be. 00:01:46.13\00:01:48.36 I went to Kettering, Ohio, to speak with cardiologist 00:01:48.36\00:01:51.10 Dr. Brian Schwartz. 00:01:51.10\00:01:52.90 Everyday, Dr. Schwartz works with patients who have heart 00:01:52.90\00:01:56.33 trouble. 00:01:56.33\00:01:57.33 As a Christian physician, he understands that God made 00:01:57.33\00:02:00.10 people, as David said in the Psalms, "fearfully 00:02:00.10\00:02:03.53 and wonderfully." 00:02:03.53\00:02:05.16 Together, Dr. Schwartz and I discussed heart disease: 00:02:05.16\00:02:08.20 what it is and what a person can do to not only avoid it, 00:02:08.20\00:02:12.56 but also to reverse it. 00:02:12.56\00:02:14.80 And we discussed the risk factors that lead to major 00:02:14.80\00:02:17.60 trouble in the temple. 00:02:17.60\00:02:19.60 [music] JB: Dr. Schwartz, let's start at the beginning. 00:02:21.96\00:02:26.23 Heart disease: that's a big term, almost a catchall 00:02:26.23\00:02:30.33 phrase. 00:02:30.33\00:02:31.33 What's heart disease? 00:02:31.33\00:02:32.33 BS: Well, first of all, the heart is the organ right in 00:02:32.33\00:02:34.56 the middle of our chest that pumps all the blood 00:02:34.56\00:02:37.33 to the rest of the body. 00:02:37.33\00:02:38.80 So, disease of the heart is a broad category that you 00:02:38.80\00:02:42.10 can lump anything that affects the heart under. 00:02:42.10\00:02:44.20 JB: Such as? 00:02:44.20\00:02:45.20 BS: Most commonly, it's coronary artery disease, 00:02:45.20\00:02:47.90 which is plaque buildup of the arteries that supply 00:02:47.90\00:02:50.73 the heart itself. 00:02:50.73\00:02:52.00 So, not only does the heart supply blood to all the rest 00:02:52.00\00:02:55.56 of the organs, but it actually has to pump blood 00:02:55.56\00:02:58.73 through the arteries to the heart muscle itself 00:02:58.73\00:03:00.80 to keep it going. 00:03:00.80\00:03:01.80 JB: And part of the problem is, you have these, let's say 00:03:01.80\00:03:03.80 an artery is around like, plaque buildup ends up 00:03:03.80\00:03:06.10 making the arteries smaller. 00:03:06.10\00:03:07.80 BS: Exactly. 00:03:07.80\00:03:09.16 So, plaque is made up of inflammation. 00:03:09.16\00:03:12.60 So there will be inflammatory blood cells, 00:03:12.60\00:03:14.66 like white blood cells, and cholesterol deposits. 00:03:14.66\00:03:17.33 Little fatty deposits that occur in the artery. 00:03:17.33\00:03:19.56 And it will take the artery and just gradually it will 00:03:19.56\00:03:22.26 narrow. 00:03:22.26\00:03:23.26 JB: And once it narrows, the blood's not getting through. 00:03:23.26\00:03:26.26 What happens? 00:03:26.26\00:03:27.26 BS: You'll start having symptoms that tell us your 00:03:27.26\00:03:29.56 heart's not getting enough blood. 00:03:29.56\00:03:31.56 The most classic symptom is to start getting 00:03:31.56\00:03:33.73 a pressure-like pain in your chest, almost like a squeezing 00:03:33.73\00:03:36.73 sensation. 00:03:36.73\00:03:37.73 Some people describe it as like an elephant 00:03:37.73\00:03:39.73 sitting on their chest. 00:03:39.73\00:03:40.73 JB: Is that angina? 00:03:40.73\00:03:41.73 BS: That's what's called angina. 00:03:41.73\00:03:43.73 JB: It's very common. 00:03:43.73\00:03:44.73 BS: One out of every two Americans over the age of 45 00:03:44.73\00:03:46.73 has some plaque buildup in their arteries. 00:03:46.73\00:03:48.73 JB: How many people are going to end up with a heart 00:03:48.73\00:03:51.73 disease issue, they're going to go and see the doctor 00:03:51.73\00:03:53.73 because of heart disease? 00:03:53.73\00:03:54.73 BS: Over 80 million Americans will have some 00:03:54.73\00:03:58.60 form of heart disease. 00:03:58.60\00:04:00.40 That can include blockages of the heart arteries, it can 00:04:00.40\00:04:03.66 include a weak heart that doesn't pump very well, 00:04:03.66\00:04:06.10 called congestive heart failure, and also 00:04:06.10\00:04:08.93 hypertension and stroke. 00:04:08.93\00:04:10.86 That also is related to the same process. 00:04:10.86\00:04:13.13 JB: Which makes heart disease this country's 00:04:13.13\00:04:15.13 number one killer, am I right? 00:04:15.13\00:04:17.13 BS: Heart disease has been the number one killer since 00:04:17.13\00:04:19.13 1900, and it hasn't changed. 00:04:19.13\00:04:20.63 JB: How do you know you might have heart disease? 00:04:20.63\00:04:22.80 There are risk factors. 00:04:22.80\00:04:24.30 I've heard this phrase "risk factors." 00:04:24.30\00:04:26.30 BS: Number one, that's not one of the standard risk 00:04:26.30\00:04:28.30 factors, is living in America.There are areas 00:04:28.30\00:04:31.43 in the whole world, like rural China and New Guinea 00:04:31.43\00:04:34.16 and Africa, where populations that hardly eat any meat 00:04:34.16\00:04:38.86 have zero incidence of heart disease. 00:04:38.86\00:04:41.36 JB: That's interesting. 00:04:41.36\00:04:42.36 BS: In fact, I'll tell you an interesting story. 00:04:42.36\00:04:44.36 I was on a mission trip about eight years ago now to 00:04:44.36\00:04:47.23 the country of Zambia. 00:04:47.23\00:04:48.86 And they have one big university hospital on 00:04:48.86\00:04:51.26 Zambia, and there's one cardiologist, one heart 00:04:51.26\00:04:53.76 doctor for the whole country. 00:04:53.76\00:04:56.53 And so, I was there giving some lectures at the medical 00:04:56.53\00:04:59.16 school, and I stopped there and talked to the heart 00:04:59.16\00:05:01.70 doctor, and I said, "So, by the way, when is the last 00:05:01.70\00:05:04.56 time that you've had a person come in to 00:05:04.56\00:05:06.70 this hospital with a heart attack?" 00:05:06.70\00:05:08.86 She had to stop and think a little bit, and she said, 00:05:08.86\00:05:10.86 "I think that was about two years ago." 00:05:10.86\00:05:12.86 Turns out it was an overweight American Aid 00:05:12.86\00:05:14.86 worker. 00:05:14.86\00:05:15.86 They just don't see heart disease in countries that do 00:05:15.86\00:05:17.86 not have our rich American diet. 00:05:17.86\00:05:20.26 JB: Which is really interest. 00:05:20.26\00:05:22.26 That means then, as we're watching this program 00:05:22.26\00:05:24.26 and listening to what you're saying, if I had heart 00:05:24.26\00:05:26.26 issues there's a very good chance--I'm not going to say 00:05:26.26\00:05:28.30 this is true for everybody--but there's 00:05:28.30\00:05:30.23 a very good chance that I don't have to be suffering 00:05:30.23\00:05:32.30 from the heart issues that I might be suffering with. 00:05:32.30\00:05:34.30 BS: Absolutely. 00:05:34.30\00:05:35.30 So, there are some genetic diseases and some bad things 00:05:35.30\00:05:38.46 that can happen. 00:05:38.46\00:05:39.46 You can get a virus that affects the heart or things 00:05:39.46\00:05:42.46 that you had no control over. 00:05:42.46\00:05:44.46 But for 90 percent of the diseases that I treat 00:05:44.46\00:05:46.46 every single day, we bring them on ourselves by the way 00:05:46.46\00:05:48.76 we live. 00:05:48.76\00:05:49.76 JB: Okay, what are the risk factors? 00:05:49.76\00:05:51.76 You mentioned one: living in America. 00:05:51.76\00:05:53.76 What are the others? 00:05:53.76\00:05:54.76 BS: Yeah. 00:05:54.76\00:05:55.76 Classically there are six risk factors. 00:05:55.76\00:05:57.76 Five of them, you can do something about. 00:05:57.76\00:05:59.76 JB: Which one can you not do anything about? 00:05:59.76\00:06:01.83 Is that genetics? 00:06:01.83\00:06:02.83 BS: Number one is genetics. 00:06:02.83\00:06:03.83 So, your family history, you were born with the genes 00:06:03.83\00:06:05.83 that you share with your brothers and sisters, 00:06:05.83\00:06:07.83 and you can't do anything about that. 00:06:07.83\00:06:09.83 So, if you have one or both parents who had a heart 00:06:09.83\00:06:11.83 attack or died of a heart attack before the age of 55, 00:06:11.83\00:06:13.83 that makes you at much higher risk. 00:06:13.83\00:06:15.83 JB: So, what should you do about that? 00:06:15.83\00:06:17.83 BS: Make sure you're getting regular screenings and treating 00:06:17.83\00:06:19.83 those other five risk factors. 00:06:19.83\00:06:20.83 JB: So, just don't ignore it. 00:06:20.83\00:06:21.83 Don't ignore it, and take good care of yourself. 00:06:21.83\00:06:23.83 BS: Exactly. 00:06:23.83\00:06:24.83 It's not all genetic. 00:06:24.83\00:06:25.83 Some of it is just the family traits that you've learned 00:06:25.83\00:06:27.83 growing up, when you saw rich eating of lots 00:06:27.83\00:06:30.80 of creamy, fatty foods. 00:06:30.80\00:06:32.73 You saw them smoking, you weren't very active. 00:06:32.73\00:06:35.30 Those are things we learned growing up. 00:06:35.30\00:06:37.30 But what obesity does, is it also makes you much more 00:06:37.30\00:06:39.53 likely to have high blood pressure. 00:06:39.53\00:06:41.53 Much more likely to have diabetes. 00:06:41.53\00:06:43.53 You're much more likely to be sedentary and not very 00:06:43.53\00:06:47.60 active, so obesity seems to be kind of at the root of a lot 00:06:47.60\00:06:50.86 of these other causes. 00:06:50.86\00:06:52.53 And by treating the obesity and getting your weight 00:06:52.53\00:06:55.10 down, you dramatically reduce your risk for heart 00:06:55.10\00:06:57.10 attack for anginal pains in the future. 00:06:57.10\00:07:00.36 JB: People can lose weight. 00:07:00.36\00:07:01.40 BS: We can control how much calories we put in through 00:07:01.40\00:07:04.16 what we eat, but also how many calories we burn by how 00:07:04.16\00:07:06.96 active we are. 00:07:06.96\00:07:07.96 And if you're addressing both of those things, 00:07:07.96\00:07:09.96 cutting out the fatty foods, especially foods like red 00:07:09.96\00:07:12.40 beets, and cheese and ice cream, and things that are 00:07:12.40\00:07:16.00 really rich in calories, and increasing activity, 00:07:16.00\00:07:19.33 oftentimes that will lead to a weight loss by doing those 00:07:19.33\00:07:22.63 simple things. 00:07:22.63\00:07:23.63 JB: Obesity. 00:07:23.63\00:07:24.63 BS: Yes. 00:07:24.63\00:07:25.63 JB: What's the next one? 00:07:25.63\00:07:26.63 BS: Well, hypertension is an elevation of the blood 00:07:26.63\00:07:28.63 pressure. 00:07:28.63\00:07:29.63 So, the heart is what generates the blood 00:07:29.63\00:07:31.70 pressure. 00:07:31.70\00:07:32.70 It's pumping the blood with every single squeeze into 00:07:32.70\00:07:35.26 those arteries. 00:07:35.26\00:07:36.26 And those arteries can be constricted because we're 00:07:36.26\00:07:38.26 stressed or because there's plaque buildup. 00:07:38.26\00:07:41.50 Or, they can be relaxed. 00:07:41.50\00:07:43.16 And as the plaque develops in the heart arteries, but 00:07:43.16\00:07:45.36 also throughout all the arteries in the body, those 00:07:45.36\00:07:48.36 tubes, those arteries that carry the blood, become very 00:07:48.36\00:07:50.50 stiff and very rigid, and they can't relax. 00:07:50.50\00:07:52.80 And then the blood pressure starts going up. 00:07:52.80\00:07:54.96 JB: What can I do about that, if I have high blood 00:07:54.96\00:07:57.06 pressure? 00:07:57.06\00:07:58.06 BS: So, if you have high blood pressure, again look 00:07:58.06\00:08:00.13 at the underlying causes. 00:08:00.13\00:08:01.20 It may be related to being overweight. 00:08:01.20\00:08:03.86 Exercise hps lower your blood pressure. 00:08:03.86\00:08:06.26 Dealing with stress in your life has a big effect. 00:08:06.26\00:08:09.66 It reduces the amount of adrenaline, or the circulating 00:08:09.66\00:08:13.83 catecholamines that cause those arteries to constrict. 00:08:13.83\00:08:16.33 So, stress can raise it. 00:08:16.33\00:08:18.16 And exercise actually has a calming effect, so it can 00:08:18.16\00:08:21.56 help reduce the stress by just doing exercise. 00:08:21.56\00:08:25.30 Some of the things we eat. 00:08:25.30\00:08:26.46 If you eat a lot of salt and you're sensitive to salt, 00:08:26.46\00:08:28.83 that's going to make your blood pressure go up. 00:08:28.83\00:08:31.46 And, there's some genetic predispositions 00:08:31.46\00:08:33.70 for that as well. 00:08:33.70\00:08:34.70 JB: Obesity, hypertension. 00:08:34.70\00:08:37.03 These are risk factors for heart disease. 00:08:37.03\00:08:39.03 BS: That's right. 00:08:39.03\00:08:40.03 Hyperlipidemia. 00:08:40.03\00:08:41.03 JB: Hyperlipidemia, that's high cholesterol. 00:08:41.03\00:08:43.03 BS: High cholesterol. 00:08:43.03\00:08:44.03 Believe it or not, even without eating cholesterol 00:08:44.03\00:08:46.03 your liver can synthesize cholesterol. 00:08:46.03\00:08:48.03 And there is a gene that can, or several genes 00:08:48.03\00:08:50.33 actually, that can synthesize cholesterol 00:08:50.33\00:08:53.03 and lead to high elevated levels of cholesterol 00:08:53.03\00:08:56.26 and triglycerides and these different fatty acids that can 00:08:56.26\00:08:59.36 be deposited in the arteries. 00:08:59.36\00:09:01.06 JB: So some of this can be genetic. 00:09:01.06\00:09:03.06 BS: It can still also be genetic. 00:09:03.06\00:09:05.06 So, there is a role for medications if you have a 00:09:05.06\00:09:07.83 very bad genetic problem. 00:09:07.83\00:09:10.16 But most of the cholesterol problems we see in America 00:09:10.16\00:09:12.63 are related to what we eat. 00:09:12.63\00:09:14.00 I say to my patients, that pretty much comes from 00:09:14.00\00:09:16.46 animal products. 00:09:16.46\00:09:18.03 Meats, cheese, dairy, especially red meats is 00:09:18.03\00:09:23.20 laden with saturated fat. 00:09:23.20\00:09:24.53 Saturated fat gets converted to bad cholesterol. 00:09:24.53\00:09:28.33 LDL cholesterol and other small particles. 00:09:28.33\00:09:31.13 Those then circulate through the bloodstream, and if there's 00:09:31.13\00:09:33.43 inflammation in the arteries, then those little fatty droplets 00:09:33.43\00:09:37.70 get deposited underneath the lining of the artery. 00:09:37.70\00:09:40.13 The artery is made up of three little layers, 00:09:40.13\00:09:42.43 and underneath the intima, the innermost layer, 00:09:42.43\00:09:45.13 you get these deposits of fat. 00:09:45.13\00:09:47.46 And they just start building up gradually as the vessel 00:09:47.46\00:09:50.16 gets tighter and tighter and tighter. 00:09:50.16\00:09:52.46 And generally that's a gradual process, but if you get 00:09:52.46\00:09:58.93 a big core of that cholesterol deposit--what we call 00:09:58.93\00:10:01.83 a lipid core--that can just suddenly rupture. 00:10:01.83\00:10:06.96 And when it ruptures, you get platelets building up 00:10:06.96\00:10:09.56 and that can lead to a heart attack. 00:10:09.56\00:10:11.56 It can just shut down the artery and boom! 00:10:11.56\00:10:13.56 It just closes suddenly, you get crushing pain in 00:10:13.56\00:10:15.56 the chest, and about half the time the first symptom 00:10:15.56\00:10:17.56 is just to have sudden cardiac death, where you just 00:10:17.56\00:10:19.56 collapse on the floor because your heart stops. 00:10:19.56\00:10:21.56 We know that not all fat is bad fat. 00:10:21.56\00:10:24.56 JB: Right. 00:10:24.56\00:10:25.56 I hear about this good cholesterol, bad 00:10:25.56\00:10:27.56 cholesterol; good fat, bad fat. 00:10:27.56\00:10:29.56 BS: Good fat, bad fat. 00:10:29.56\00:10:30.50 And it's not just the problem with cholesterol 00:10:30.50\00:10:32.50 that leads to the problem with atherosclerosis 00:10:32.50\00:10:34.50 or plaque buildup in the arteries, it's also 00:10:34.50\00:10:36.50 driven by inflammation. 00:10:36.50\00:10:37.53 So, certain viruses, some of the foods we eat, drive 00:10:37.53\00:10:41.56 the inflammatory process and that's what leads to these 00:10:41.56\00:10:44.33 fatty deposits. 00:10:44.33\00:10:45.76 So, the other thing I tell my patients is there is good 00:10:45.76\00:10:49.10 cholesterol and bad cholesterol. 00:10:49.10\00:10:51.10 Bad cholesterol is made in the liver; it circulates 00:10:51.10\00:10:53.86 in the bloodstream and it gets deposited in the arteries, 00:10:53.86\00:10:56.63 wherever there is inflammation. 00:10:56.63\00:10:58.60 Good cholesterol, on the other hand, called HDL, 00:10:58.60\00:11:01.33 gets made in the liver but it goes through the arteries 00:11:01.33\00:11:06.10 and it actually scavenges the fat back out of them 00:11:06.10\00:11:09.06 and gets deposited back in the liver where it can 00:11:09.06\00:11:11.46 be excreted. 00:11:11.46\00:11:12.56 So, you want as much good cholesterol as you can get, 00:11:12.56\00:11:14.66 and as little bad cholesterol as you can get. 00:11:14.66\00:11:16.73 JB: Where do you get good cholesterol? 00:11:16.73\00:11:18.73 BS: So, good cholesterol comes from two things: your 00:11:18.73\00:11:20.73 body can make it; exercise helps stimulate it; but also 00:11:20.73\00:11:23.40 plant-based fats are high in good cholesterol, as well 00:11:23.40\00:11:26.96 as some fish supplements. 00:11:26.96\00:11:28.46 JB: What are plant-based fats? 00:11:28.46\00:11:31.10 Such as, I'm thinking of avocado, am I right? 00:11:31.10\00:11:33.10 BS: Yeah, avocado is higher. 00:11:33.10\00:11:34.76 Almonds, walnuts are very high sources. 00:11:34.76\00:11:39.00 Flax seed is very high. 00:11:39.00\00:11:40.83 And we call these omega 3 fatty acids, and they actually 00:11:40.83\00:11:44.76 lead to HLA, which is a type of fatty acid that's the helpful 00:11:44.76\00:11:49.03 type of fat. 00:11:49.03\00:11:50.03 JB: Not only is that good for you, but it draws the bad 00:11:50.03\00:11:52.13 cholesterol out. 00:11:52.13\00:11:53.13 BS: Absolutely. 00:11:53.13\00:11:54.13 It can help reduce and offset the effects 00:11:54.13\00:11:56.46 of the bad cholesterol. 00:11:56.46\00:11:57.46 JB: Oh, I like that. 00:11:57.46\00:12:00.86 [music] JB: In my discussion with cardiologist Dr. Brian 00:12:00.86\00:12:06.30 Schwartz, what can you do to get your heart right, 00:12:06.30\00:12:09.56 and get your heart right? 00:12:09.56\00:12:11.76 We'll find out more in just a moment. 00:12:11.76\00:12:14.76 >: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of God says, "It is written, 00:12:16.13\00:12:19.76 man shall not live by bread alone but by every word 00:12:19.76\00:12:23.26 that proceeds from the mouth of God." 00:12:23.26\00:12:25.63 "Every Word" is a one-minute, Bible-based 00:12:25.63\00:12:28.06 daily devotional, presented by Pastor John Bradshaw 00:12:28.06\00:12:31.30 and designed especially for busy people like you. 00:12:31.30\00:12:34.03 Look for "Every Word" on selected networks, 00:12:34.03\00:12:37.16 or watch it online every day on our website. 00:12:37.16\00:12:39.50 ItIsWritten.com. 00:12:39.50\00:12:41.60 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 00:12:41.60\00:12:43.66 Watch "Every Word." 00:12:43.66\00:12:45.53 You'll be glad you did. 00:12:45.53\00:12:46.66 Here's a sample. 00:12:46.66\00:12:48.93 [music] 00:12:50.13\00:12:52.20 JB: Go to any major bookstore, and you'll find 00:12:57.46\00:12:59.06 plenty of books on the subject of raising children. 00:12:59.06\00:13:01.83 And some of those books might even contain some 00:13:01.83\00:13:03.83 useful advice. 00:13:03.83\00:13:05.00 But probably the best thing you can do for a child 00:13:05.00\00:13:07.13 is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3, verse 15. 00:13:07.13\00:13:10.00 Paul says to the young church leader, Timothy, 00:13:10.00\00:13:12.16 "From childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, 00:13:12.16\00:13:15.36 which are able to make you wise for salvation through 00:13:15.36\00:13:17.73 faith, which is in Christ Jesus." 00:13:17.73\00:13:20.16 When a mind is young, you want to put the very best 00:13:20.16\00:13:23.20 into it. 00:13:23.20\00:13:24.20 And the best you can put into a mind is God's Word. 00:13:24.20\00:13:27.16 You can give your kids advice, and model the best 00:13:27.16\00:13:29.53 and most virtuous behavior, but the best thing for a child 00:13:29.53\00:13:32.50 is to be connected to God, and to know the Word of God. 00:13:32.50\00:13:36.23 If there are children in your life, do the very best 00:13:36.23\00:13:38.30 for them and encourage them to know God's Word 00:13:38.30\00:13:41.13 for themselves. 00:13:41.13\00:13:42.23 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 00:13:42.23\00:13:46.16 Let's live today by every word. 00:13:46.16\00:13:49.16 JB: This is It Is Written. 00:13:49.50\00:13:51.33 I'm John Bradshaw, and today, my discussion 00:13:51.33\00:13:53.90 is with cardiologist Dr. Brian Schwartz. 00:13:53.90\00:13:56.76 I went to Kettering, Ohio, to find out from Dr. Schwartz 00:13:56.76\00:13:59.80 what the risk factors are for heart disease. 00:13:59.80\00:14:03.13 We also talked about the risk factors in terms of our heart, 00:14:03.13\00:14:07.03 spiritually speaking. 00:14:07.03\00:14:08.86 How can we be well physically and well 00:14:08.86\00:14:11.13 spiritually, as well? 00:14:11.13\00:14:12.36 It's important, because the Bible says the body is 00:14:12.36\00:14:15.10 the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:15.10\00:14:17.30 Here's more of my conversation with Dr. Schwartz. 00:14:17.30\00:14:20.70 What's the next risk factor for heart disease, 00:14:25.03\00:14:27.26 after Hyperlipidemia? 00:14:27.26\00:14:28.26 BS: I think we talked about obesity, hypertension, 00:14:28.26\00:14:31.46 Hyperlipidemia, the next one I think would be stress. 00:14:31.46\00:14:35.03 JB: What can we do about stress? 00:14:35.03\00:14:37.03 BS: Well, we live in a very high-charged world. 00:14:37.03\00:14:39.86 There's no way you're going to avoid stress completely, 00:14:39.86\00:14:41.86 and in fact, it's probably not healthy to have no 00:14:41.86\00:14:43.86 stress whatsoever in your life. 00:14:43.86\00:14:45.83 It's how we deal with the stress that's the problem. 00:14:45.83\00:14:48.86 Sometimes we just hold it inside, and you can just feel 00:14:48.86\00:14:51.56 like the stress is internalized and you can't get rid of it. 00:14:51.56\00:14:56.46 That's the kind of stress that leads to the high 00:14:56.46\00:14:58.73 levels of the adrenaline circulating through your 00:14:58.73\00:15:01.06 bloodstream. 00:15:01.06\00:15:02.06 That causes the blood vessels to constrict. 00:15:02.06\00:15:04.06 It just makes you feel tired and worn out. 00:15:04.06\00:15:06.80 So, one of the best things to do, I tell my patients 00:15:06.80\00:15:09.60 it would be helpful to be in a support group. 00:15:09.60\00:15:11.60 Encourage them, that could be at church, it could 00:15:11.60\00:15:15.40 be at a community activity, around family, things like that 00:15:15.40\00:15:19.30 help relieve stress. 00:15:19.30\00:15:20.86 Exercise helps relieve stress. 00:15:20.86\00:15:22.50 It actually helps release all those adrenaline stores, 00:15:22.50\00:15:25.43 so you get this big surge, but then after you exercise, 00:15:25.43\00:15:28.63 you get more of a relaxing effect. 00:15:28.63\00:15:30.83 And so, it can be very beneficial to exercise. 00:15:30.83\00:15:33.16 JB: Scientifically, are we more stressed today as a society 00:15:33.16\00:15:36.16 than we were 50-60 years ago? 00:15:36.16\00:15:37.66 BS: We know that 50 years ago, we didn't have the high 00:15:37.66\00:15:42.30 divorce rates; we had more likely a family structure; 00:15:42.30\00:15:46.00 very likely the father went to work, the mother stayed 00:15:46.00\00:15:48.20 at home with the children. 00:15:48.20\00:15:49.20 Now, both parents are out working, and she's still got 00:15:49.20\00:15:51.43 to come back and do the same things at home. 00:15:51.43\00:15:53.43 We just live in a supercharged environment. 00:15:53.43\00:15:56.63 In order to make those bills, you might have to be 00:15:56.63\00:15:58.63 holding down 2, 3, 4 jobs instead of one job. 00:15:58.63\00:16:01.70 And there's no security that you're going to keep 00:16:01.70\00:16:03.70 your job anymore. 00:16:03.70\00:16:04.70 It could be here today and gone tomorrow. 00:16:04.70\00:16:06.70 So, very stressful. 00:16:06.70\00:16:07.70 JB: Now, spiritually speaking bout stress, 00:16:07.70\00:16:09.70 God has some treatments for stress, doesn't He? 00:16:09.70\00:16:13.13 I'm thinking in the Bible, Jesus said, "Come to me all 00:16:13.13\00:16:16.26 ye that labor and are heavy laden; I will give you rest." 00:16:16.26\00:16:18.90 BS: Yes. 00:16:18.90\00:16:19.90 JB: As a Christian physician, talk a little bit 00:16:19.90\00:16:23.43 about God's prescription for stress. 00:16:23.43\00:16:25.83 What God offers us, how faith in God helps. 00:16:25.83\00:16:28.03 BS: Yes. 00:16:28.03\00:16:29.03 Absolutely. 00:16:29.03\00:16:29.96 I think it makes a huge difference to have faith 00:16:29.96\00:16:31.96 in God, and in fact as a physician, I offer to pray 00:16:31.96\00:16:35.23 with every one of my patients that comes to my office, 00:16:35.23\00:16:37.60 because I think that's very, very important. 00:16:37.60\00:16:39.83 And as a result of addressing that spiritual need 00:16:39.83\00:16:43.30 and praying that God will bless my patients, that 00:16:43.30\00:16:46.00 He'll be there to help them make change, I've had many 00:16:46.00\00:16:48.96 patients come in to my office and say it's because 00:16:48.96\00:16:51.20 you prayed for me that I was able to give up smoking. 00:16:51.20\00:16:53.30 It's because you prayed for me that I was able 00:16:53.30\00:16:55.46 to start exercising. 00:16:55.46\00:16:56.46 That I was able to cut out most of the meat in my diet. 00:16:56.46\00:17:00.20 So, they've been able to make powerful changes 00:17:00.20\00:17:02.43 because of the power of prayer. 00:17:02.43\00:17:04.43 Just being part of a spiritual community helps with stress. 00:17:04.43\00:17:08.03 And I believe that taking time to rest. 00:17:08.03\00:17:10.43 The Bible encourage us to take a day off every week to 00:17:10.43\00:17:13.83 rest. 00:17:13.83\00:17:14.83 I also tell my patients I won't ask them to do anything 00:17:14.83\00:17:16.96 I don't do myself, and so, I exercise regularly. 00:17:16.96\00:17:21.50 I ran a marathon two years ago, and I still run about 00:17:21.50\00:17:24.43 20 miles a week, spread out over three or four days 00:17:24.43\00:17:27.60 a week. 00:17:27.60\00:17:28.60 I'm a vegetarian. 00:17:28.60\00:17:29.60 I don't eat any meat in my diet. 00:17:29.60\00:17:31.93 I don't drink; I don't smoke. 00:17:31.93\00:17:33.93 I try to take time spiritually to be reenergized 00:17:33.93\00:17:36.76 with time with God every day. 00:17:36.76\00:17:39.40 And I take off one day a week to rest. 00:17:39.40\00:17:41.66 JB: Now, we've still got a couple of risk factors 00:17:41.66\00:17:43.66 left to go. 00:17:43.66\00:17:44.66 We've talked about four, must be I think two more. 00:17:44.66\00:17:46.96 What are they? 00:17:46.96\00:17:47.96 BS: So, smoking and sedentary lifestyle. 00:17:47.96\00:17:50.50 JB: What is it about smoking that's so bad? 00:17:50.50\00:17:53.03 BS: It increases our cancer risk, but specifically 00:17:53.03\00:17:56.50 in talking about heart disease, what I deal with every day, 00:17:56.50\00:17:58.86 it's one of the top leading risk factors. 00:17:58.86\00:18:02.00 Not only, if you have high blood pressure plus you smoke, 00:18:02.00\00:18:05.10 you don't just double your risk, it has a huge multiplying 00:18:05.10\00:18:08.10 effect. 00:18:08.10\00:18:09.16 So, it's really toxic to the arteries. 00:18:09.16\00:18:11.60 So, I mentioned that it's not just the cholesterol 00:18:11.60\00:18:14.73 circulating through our arteries that's a problem. 00:18:14.73\00:18:17.03 Those arteries have to become inflamed. 00:18:17.03\00:18:19.50 And nicotine and the hazards that come through cigarette 00:18:19.50\00:18:24.30 smoke inflames the arteries. 00:18:24.30\00:18:27.06 Even smoking one cigarette can increase your risk 00:18:27.06\00:18:29.90 for a heart attack in the following days after 00:18:29.90\00:18:32.23 doing that. 00:18:32.23\00:18:33.23 Even being around secondhand smoke increases your risk 00:18:33.23\00:18:35.80 for a heart attack for nearly 40 percent. 00:18:35.80\00:18:37.90 So, smoking is a huge risk for developing 00:18:37.90\00:18:41.16 atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. 00:18:41.16\00:18:43.76 And nicotine in tobacco is very addictive. 00:18:43.76\00:18:45.76 In some studies it shows that it's actually more 00:18:45.76\00:18:47.76 addictive than cocaine, so it makes it very difficult 00:18:47.76\00:18:54.30 once you've become addicted to break that habit. 00:18:54.30\00:18:56.36 JB: What's the best way to break the habit? 00:18:56.36\00:18:58.36 What are the best ways? 00:18:58.36\00:18:59.36 BS: Unfortunately, if you ask your average doctor how 00:18:59.36\00:19:02.23 effective are you at getting your patients to quit 00:19:02.23\00:19:05.40 smoking, the answer would be not very effective. 00:19:05.40\00:19:08.30 Historically the success rates are probably about 30 00:19:08.30\00:19:11.00 percent. 00:19:11.00\00:19:12.43 Now, I see a lot of patients who have already had a heart 00:19:12.43\00:19:14.70 attack, and you would think that once they've had a heart 00:19:14.70\00:19:17.00 attack that's going to motivate change. 00:19:17.00\00:19:19.16 JB: You'd think. 00:19:19.16\00:19:20.16 BS: To some degree that helps, but the honest truth. 00:19:20.16\00:19:23.50 What we talked about when we talked about the spiritual 00:19:23.50\00:19:25.96 side, the thing that I've seen make the biggest 00:19:25.96\00:19:28.23 difference is when I specifically pray for my patient 00:19:28.23\00:19:31.76 to ask the Lord to give them the desire to take away 00:19:31.76\00:19:35.06 that urge to smoke and to help them develop the willpower 00:19:35.06\00:19:38.83 to be able to overcome that habit. 00:19:38.83\00:19:40.83 That makes more difference than anything. 00:19:40.83\00:19:42.83 I have more patients say to me, it's because you prayed 00:19:42.83\00:19:44.83 with me that I was able to stop smoking. 00:19:44.83\00:19:46.83 People who have tried the nicotine gum and have tried 00:19:46.83\00:19:48.86 the patch and have tried other things to try to quit. 00:19:48.86\00:19:50.90 We see a real strength in the power of prayer. 00:19:50.90\00:19:55.16 JB: I'm reminded of some Bible verses. 00:19:55.16\00:19:57.70 "With God all things are possible. 00:19:57.70\00:19:59.70 BS: That's right. 00:19:59.70\00:20:00.70 JB: "It is God who works in you both to will and to do 00:20:00.70\00:20:02.70 for his good pleasure." 00:20:02.70\00:20:03.70 So trust in God, must be a great help. 00:20:03.70\00:20:05.83 BS: Absolutely. 00:20:05.83\00:20:07.13 It helps bring about change. 00:20:07.13\00:20:09.16 Patients literally sense that it gives them 00:20:09.16\00:20:12.43 an increased desire, and they find within them 00:20:12.43\00:20:15.36 the capacity to make the changes that they weren't able to make 00:20:15.36\00:20:18.43 as a result of prayer. 00:20:18.43\00:20:19.80 [music] 00:20:21.30\00:20:24.23 JB: It Is Written is dedicated to sharing 00:20:25.86\00:20:27.30 the gospel around the world. 00:20:27.30\00:20:28.93 To discover more about It Is Written, I invite you 00:20:28.93\00:20:31.30 to visit our website, ItIsWritten.com, and brose 00:20:31.30\00:20:34.76 the dozens of pages that describe what we do and how 00:20:34.76\00:20:37.60 we do it. 00:20:37.60\00:20:38.60 Let's get to know each other better. 00:20:38.60\00:20:40.70 Visit our website, ItIsWritten.com, today. 00:20:40.70\00:20:43.70 JB: One more risk factor, what is that? 00:20:45.50\00:20:47.76 BS: Sedentary lifestyle. 00:20:47.76\00:20:48.76 JB: Oh, okay. 00:20:48.76\00:20:49.76 BS: In a recent survey, 40 percent of all Americans 00:20:49.76\00:20:52.76 admit that they do absolutely zero physical exercise. 00:20:52.76\00:20:56.06 JB: Forty percent. 00:20:56.06\00:20:57.06 BS: If you don't exercise, you're more likely 00:20:57.06\00:20:59.10 to be obese. 00:20:59.10\00:21:00.16 If you're obese, you're more likely to have diabetes 00:21:00.16\00:21:02.16 and hypertension. 00:21:02.16\00:21:03.16 If you're under stress, you're more likely to smoke. 00:21:03.16\00:21:05.16 If you're under stress, you're more likely to feed 00:21:05.16\00:21:07.16 that stress by eating to help you just feel relaxed. 00:21:07.16\00:21:09.63 And they're all interrelated to lifestyle. 00:21:09.63\00:21:13.00 In the "Lancet," one of the prestigious 00:21:13.00\00:21:15.43 British medical journals, they suggested that lack 00:21:15.43\00:21:18.86 of exercise if one of the number one leading 00:21:18.86\00:21:21.23 causes of death worldwide. 00:21:21.23\00:21:22.63 JB: Let's talk about diabetes as a risk factor 00:21:22.63\00:21:25.56 for heart disease as well. 00:21:25.56\00:21:26.70 BS: It used to be a disease of adults. 00:21:26.70\00:21:30.26 Now it's becoming very commonly diagnosed 00:21:30.26\00:21:32.50 in children. 00:21:32.50\00:21:34.10 Diabetes is a problem with our body's ability 00:21:34.10\00:21:36.80 to handle extra glucose, extra sugar. 00:21:36.80\00:21:41.90 Typically we think of it as coming from just eating too 00:21:41.90\00:21:44.13 much sweets, but it's really a problem with being able 00:21:44.13\00:21:47.26 to handle too many calories, regardless of the source. 00:21:47.26\00:21:51.53 As people gain weight, it's a sign that they're eating 00:21:51.53\00:21:54.86 more calories than they need. 00:21:54.86\00:21:56.70 The body can't handle that, and so that gets released 00:21:56.70\00:21:59.73 to the bloodstream as extra levels of glucose, extra 00:21:59.73\00:22:02.43 sugar circulating through the bloodstream. 00:22:02.43\00:22:05.33 And then that gets deposited as fat and it becomes 00:22:05.33\00:22:07.60 a vicious cycle. 00:22:07.60\00:22:08.80 Too many calories converted to fat get bigger. 00:22:08.80\00:22:11.50 The bigger we get, the less the body can handle the glucose, 00:22:11.50\00:22:14.83 and that leads to diabetes. 00:22:14.83\00:22:15.93 JB: What do we do about heart disease? 00:22:15.93\00:22:18.33 We've talked about this as we go along a little bit, 00:22:18.33\00:22:20.33 but if we were going to start listing some 00:22:20.33\00:22:22.66 treatments, some self-treatments, what 00:22:22.66\00:22:24.86 a person can do to avoid it, where would we begin? 00:22:24.86\00:22:27.20 BS: Probably to get a checkup with your physician. 00:22:27.20\00:22:29.76 It's good to know your numbers; you need to know what 00:22:29.76\00:22:31.83 your blood pressure is. 00:22:31.83\00:22:33.03 And ideally the blood pressure should be 00:22:33.03\00:22:37.46 less than 130/80. 00:22:37.46\00:22:38.46 You need to know what your cholesterol numbers are. 00:22:38.46\00:22:40.56 You want that total cholesterol to be below, 00:22:40.56\00:22:44.26 ideally below 200. 00:22:44.26\00:22:45.70 You want your triglycerides to be as low as possible 00:22:45.70\00:22:48.40 but definitely below 150. 00:22:48.40\00:22:51.10 You want that bad cholesterol, the LDL 00:22:51.10\00:22:53.53 cholesterol, to be below 100. 00:22:53.53\00:22:55.90 And you want that good cholesterol to be as high 00:22:55.90\00:22:57.96 as possible: in a male, at least above 45 and in 00:22:57.96\00:23:00.83 a female we like to see it up above 60. 00:23:00.83\00:23:02.86 In fact, if people already have heart disease, 00:23:02.86\00:23:07.43 if we can treat those risk factors, and we can get that 00:23:07.43\00:23:10.16 LDL cholesterol all the way down below 70, by diet, 00:23:10.16\00:23:13.10 exercise and even medications, and get that good 00:23:13.10\00:23:15.93 cholesterol up above 45, we now have scientific 00:23:15.93\00:23:18.76 evidence that you can start reversing that plaque. 00:23:18.76\00:23:21.56 You can actually open up the arteries 00:23:21.56\00:23:24.33 and your body can actually naturally start sucking 00:23:24.33\00:23:26.86 the cholesterol deposits, the calcium and all the things 00:23:26.86\00:23:29.23 that make up that plaque out of the artery 00:23:29.23\00:23:31.36 and actually gradually restore that vessel. 00:23:31.36\00:23:34.03 JB: So, in some cases heart disease can be reversed. 00:23:34.03\00:23:36.46 BS: Absolutely. 00:23:36.46\00:23:38.40 [music] 00:23:39.53\00:23:41.60 JB: And heart disease is about as serious as it gets. 00:23:43.03\00:23:45.46 But related to this, there's something else. 00:23:45.46\00:23:48.16 Now, let me ask you: how is it with your heart today? 00:23:48.16\00:23:52.40 If you're having heart challenges physically, 00:23:52.40\00:23:55.50 you're now better equipped to do something about that. 00:23:55.50\00:23:58.26 But what if you're having heart challenges 00:23:58.26\00:24:00.73 spiritually? 00:24:00.73\00:24:02.26 There are risk factors for your spiritual life, too. 00:24:02.26\00:24:04.83 There's an enemy who wants you to have a spiritual 00:24:04.83\00:24:07.80 heart attack. 00:24:07.80\00:24:08.93 But there's a way that you can stay spiritually well, 00:24:08.93\00:24:11.83 and that's by staying close to God; by staying connected 00:24:11.83\00:24:15.96 to Him. 00:24:15.96\00:24:16.96 Proverbs 23 verse 26 says, "My son, give me your heart, 00:24:16.96\00:24:21.26 and let your eyes observe my ways." 00:24:21.26\00:24:24.76 Have you done that? 00:24:24.76\00:24:26.00 Given God your heart? 00:24:26.00\00:24:27.93 I want to encourage you to do that. 00:24:27.93\00:24:29.93 You know, there are a lot of frustrated people who know 00:24:29.93\00:24:32.26 that honestly they've been holding back, and they've 00:24:32.26\00:24:35.10 not been giving all to God. 00:24:35.10\00:24:38.40 You can't go through life ignoring the risk factors 00:24:38.40\00:24:41.00 and expecting to get away with it. 00:24:41.00\00:24:43.33 In the same way, it's vital to follow the pathway to 00:24:43.33\00:24:45.76 good spiritual health, and that pathway is the pathway 00:24:45.76\00:24:50.16 of surrender to Jesus. 00:24:50.16\00:24:52.76 And with that in mind, I'd like to offer you 00:24:52.76\00:24:54.76 a special book. 00:24:54.76\00:24:55.76 It's a book I wrote, and it's called "Confidence 00:24:55.76\00:24:58.46 in Chaos." 00:24:58.46\00:24:59.46 And this is a book that will help you navigate life's 00:24:59.46\00:25:02.40 challenging pathways and lead you to that place 00:25:02.40\00:25:05.33 in the heart of God that you can safely call 00:25:05.33\00:25:07.80 your spiritual home. 00:25:07.80\00:25:09.56 In order to get this book, call right now. 00:25:09.56\00:25:12.13 The number is 1-800-253-3000, and simply ask for 00:25:12.13\00:25:17.66 "Confidence in Chaos." 00:25:17.66\00:25:19.16 You can write to It Is Written at Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 00:25:19.16\00:25:24.23 91359, and we'll mail a copy to your address 00:25:24.23\00:25:28.46 in North America. 00:25:28.46\00:25:29.96 This is a resource you'll appreciate. 00:25:29.96\00:25:32.30 It's yours free. 00:25:32.30\00:25:34.00 All you need to do is call right now 1-800-253-3000, 00:25:34.00\00:25:38.93 or write to the address on your screen. 00:25:38.93\00:25:41.63 There's no cost, and there's no catch. 00:25:41.63\00:25:45.00 Simply call now and ask for "Confidence in Chaos," 00:25:45.00\00:25:49.43 and remember, It Is Written is a faith ministry made 00:25:49.43\00:25:54.03 possible by people like you. 00:25:54.03\00:25:56.30 If you're blessed by this program, I want to ask you 00:25:56.30\00:25:59.43 to be gracious enough to help us through 00:25:59.43\00:26:01.73 your financial support. 00:26:01.73\00:26:03.43 We don't place a lot of emphasis on that at It Is 00:26:03.43\00:26:05.66 Written, but that's not to suggest it isn't needed 00:26:05.66\00:26:08.00 or appreciated. 00:26:08.00\00:26:09.00 Your continued financial support makes it possible 00:26:09.00\00:26:12.20 for It Is Written to continue sharing the Word 00:26:12.20\00:26:14.80 of God with the world. 00:26:14.80\00:26:16.80 Thank you so much for your prayers and your support. 00:26:19.16\00:26:23.83 And I'd like to pray with you. 00:26:23.83\00:26:25.83 Let's pray together. 00:26:25.83\00:26:26.83 Our Father in heaven, I think You that in a world 00:26:26.83\00:26:30.00 that is full of risk factors, that there is a way 00:26:30.00\00:26:33.46 to safety, and that way is Jesus, our Savior 00:26:33.46\00:26:35.86 and our Friend. 00:26:35.86\00:26:37.40 Now I know that many of us, we're dealing with heart 00:26:37.40\00:26:39.70 issues, physically, literally, and I pray that 00:26:39.70\00:26:42.50 You as the Great Physician would come close and that 00:26:42.50\00:26:45.56 all of us who are dealing with a heart problem, 00:26:45.56\00:26:47.56 because our heart, the Bible says, is desperately wicked 00:26:47.56\00:26:50.90 and deceitful above all things. 00:26:50.90\00:26:53.60 Lord, come into our lives; make our hearts right 00:26:53.60\00:26:56.43 with You. 00:26:56.43\00:26:57.46 We offer them to You now and ask You to be in our life, 00:26:57.46\00:27:02.43 what we want You to be, and more importantly, what You 00:27:02.43\00:27:06.73 want us to be. 00:27:06.73\00:27:08.83 We thank You today, we praise You, we love You, 00:27:08.83\00:27:11.70 and we want to love You more. 00:27:11.70\00:27:12.83 Make that happen, please. 00:27:12.83\00:27:15.00 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:27:15.00\00:27:18.16 Amen. 00:27:18.16\00:27:20.16 [music] 00:27:20.16\00:27:23.96 JB: Thanks for joining me today. 00:27:44.10\00:27:45.40 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 00:27:45.40\00:27:47.46 Until then, remember, It Is Written: 00:27:47.46\00:27:50.73 "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 00:27:50.73\00:27:55.26 that proceeds from the mouth of God." 00:27:55.26\00:27:58.73