There is such fascination with one of the major organs of the body, that is, the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans. Every 34 seconds, someone dies from heart disease. Between 2021 and 2022 the cost to care for people with some form of heart disease such as heart attacks, atherosclerosis, and heart failure, was approximately $168 billion dollars (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024). 

The Bible provides guidance, instruction, and solutions to everyday problems. The English-translated word "heart" appears over 700 times in the King James Version (Christian Bible Reference, ND). There are numerous adjectives in the Bible that describe the heart, such as the hardened, overwhelmed, and faint. Other adjectives to describe the heart include faithful (Nehemiah 9:8), pure (Psalms 24:4), broken (Psalms 34:18), deceitful (and desperately wicked; Jeremiah 17:9), and proud (Proverbs 16:5).  

These biblical references to the heart can also help us understand actual health conditions. For example, Proverbs 28:14 indicates that a hardened heart can lead one to mischief–a lesson on atherosclerosis. Psalms 61:2 indicates that David's heart was overwhelmed–a possible indication of stress, burnout, or depression. 

Of interest are a couple of verses in the Bible that draw special attention to the heart are Psalms 39:3-4 (KJV) which reads, "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue", "LORD, make me know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." The main words in verse three are "my heart was hot" and "the fire burned;" and from these we can draw lessons about inflammation. 

Inflammation is a complex phenomenon that comprises numerous and intricate processes that involve enzymes and chemicals that are a normal defense mechanism. There are, however, instances where inflammation can cause abnormalities in the heart and other body tissues and organs (Alfaddagh et al., 2020). According to Alfaddagh et al. (2020), inflammation has been identified as "the fire within" (p. 1). Some incidences that might have an adverse effect on the heart include viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections, autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and certain medications (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [NHLBI], 2023). 

One could say that the heart is like a barometer, a tool that indicates or describes what takes place deep within the soul and affects every fiber of one's being. Since the heart is a major organ, and if inflammation causes it to malfunction, possibly resulting in death, great importance should be placed on heart health, including management of inflammation.  

To decrease the risk of an inflammatory process that affects the heart, lifestyle changes are important. Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet are contributing factors to inflammation (Alfaddagh et al., 2020; American Heart Association [AHA], 2025). Healthy lifestyle behaviors just might be key factors to extinguish the fire that burns within, with results of a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of heart disease among the American people.  Read our article on Legumes for tips on how to reduce inflammation through a healthy and common food: https://nadhealth.org/legumes/.