Dr. Kara Davis is unique in the field of medicine. Most physicians lean on their medical books and training when evaluating their patients Davis does too but she also takes it a step further and weighs in on a client’s emotional and spiritual health when painting their overall health picture. She examines both sides of this concept in her new book “Spiritual Secrets To a Healthy Heart” (Siloam Press/ SRP: $14.99).
The University of Illinois trained doctor who practices at the Christian Community Health Center in Chicago was first motivated to pursue a career in medicine by a relative she never met. “I was inspired to become a physician after learning that my paternal grandfather, Dr. Walter Thomas, was an ob/gyne who practiced during the Great Depression when people often didn’t have money to pay him,” she recalls. “I never met him, he died when my father was 14. I didn’t follow his steps into the field of gynecology, but decided to pursue internal medicine because of my interest in disease prevention through following a healthy lifestyle. I became a born-again believer soon after graduating from medical school and I combine.”
Davis sees no conflict between her Christian faith and the science of medicine. Furthermore, she feels more Christians should take note of their health. “My new book is relevant to the Christian community because heart disease, while largely preventable, is the number one cause of death in America, and is just as common in Christians as in unbelievers,” she asserts. “Since the Holy Spirit equips us to lead a life of discipline, moderation and self-control, this should not be the case. The book gives valuable information on all the risk factors for heart disease, including those related to our mental, spiritual and emotional health. With this knowledge, we are equipped to lead a lifestyle that is heart-healthy.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 597,000 Americans died of heart disease last year – more than any other illness, including cancer – and it remains the country’s #1 killer. This is why Davis advocates not only a healthy diet that includes regular exercise but also finding one’s spiritual center. “Our physical health is inextricably linked with our spiritual, mental and emotional health,” she writes in the book’s introduction. Over the course of nine informative chapters, Davis delves into all matters of the heart – physical and emotional.
“A positive or negative attitude has a strong influence on heart health,” says Davis. “In scores of studies examining the impact, the results are impressive. In these pages I cannot possibly cite all the research that identifies a connection between a pessimistic disposition and coronary illness— the data is far too extensive.”
