Heart Disease Doesn't Have To Happen and Can Be Reversed

The Silent Killer: Why Heart Disease Deserves Your Attention Now

By: Marcy Schoenborn

Did you know we found my husbands heart condition only after he started eating with me to reverse his high cholesterol and lower his blood pressure? This happened because as he reduced inflammation and severe pain he had thought he had to live with as an aging man went away, a pain in the center of his back remained. Two weeks in to eating with me he told me he had a pain in the center of his back, and I told him that was right behind his heart. In typical manly style he tried to ignore if for a couple of days, but as he continued to feel better across the board, sleeping better than he had in 2 decades, more energy and dropping weight... the pain stayed. 

He finally went in to have it looked at and after testing was diagnosed with minor aortic regurgitation. (I will put the information on this below)  and the beautiful thing is: with the lifestyle change he has made, he can prevent open heart surgery!   And, yes, he did lower his cholesterol, bring his blood pressure down to amazing numbers and dropped 30 pounds, all in only 84 days.

If you or someone you love could benefit from eating with me, I would love to talk with you about your condition and what we can do.

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Heart disease isn’t just a medical condition — it’s the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming more lives each year than all cancers combined. In the U.S. alone, one person dies from heart disease roughly every 33 seconds, according to the CDC. The most sobering part? Many of these deaths are completely preventable with the right lifestyle habits, nutrition, and early intervention.

Why It’s So Dangerous

Heart disease develops quietly over years — often decades — before symptoms show up. It’s a slow build-up of inflammation, plaque, and strain on the cardiovascular system. By the time someone experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, the underlying damage has often been there for years.

This makes it what experts call a “silent killer.” It doesn’t always give you a clear warning before something serious — like a heart attack or stroke — happens.

The Warning Signs to Watch For

You don’t have to wait for a medical emergency to take action. Your body often sends early signals when your cardiovascular system is struggling. Pay attention if you experience:

• Chest tightness or pressure (even mild or occasional)

• Shortness of breath during normal activity

• Extreme fatigue or weakness

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

• Pain in the jaw, neck, back, or arms

• Swelling in legs or feet

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

These symptoms don’t always mean heart disease — but they do mean your body is under stress, and it’s time to check what’s going on internally.

What Really Drives Heart Disease

While cholesterol often takes the blame, the real story is broader. Heart disease is fueled by inflammation, high blood sugar, stress, poor diet, and lack of movement. Excess sugar, refined carbs, and processed fats can inflame artery walls, leading to plaque buildup and decreased blood flow. Over time, this weakens the heart and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

On the flip side, whole-food nutrition, consistent exercise, stress management, and quality sleep can dramatically lower risk — even if heart disease runs in your family.

Prevention Is Power

The great news? You can reverse much of the risk through lifestyle changes. Studies show that nutrition, movement, and stress reduction can improve heart function and even begin clearing artery blockages naturally.

Small, consistent actions — like balancing blood sugar, reducing inflammatory foods, walking daily, and supporting your mitochondria (your cells’ energy producers) — all add up to a stronger, more resilient heart.

Take Control Before It’s Too Late

You don’t need to face this alone. At Scho Fit, we help you get to the root causes of poor cardiovascular health — whether it’s inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or metabolic imbalance — and design a plan that actually fits your life.

If you’ve been feeling tired, stressed, or unsure about your heart health, don’t wait for a crisis. Reach out to us at www.scho.fit . Let’s identify your risks early and build a simple, science-based path toward a stronger heart and a longer, more vibrant life.

❤️ Understanding Minor Aortic Regurgitation (and What You Can Do About It)

What It Is

Aortic regurgitation — sometimes called aortic insufficiency — happens when the aortic valve (the valve between your heart’s left ventricle and the aorta) doesn’t close tightly.

Normally, this valve opens to let blood flow out of the heart and into your body, then shuts firmly so blood doesn’t leak backward.
But with regurgitation, some blood flows back into the heart after each beat.

When it’s minor (or mild), that leak is small. The heart can usually compensate without major symptoms — sometimes for years or even decades. But it’s a warning sign that your heart needs care and attention.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Care of Yourself

If you ignore it or continue habits that strain the heart, here’s what can happen over time:

1. Progression of the leak.
   Inflammation, high blood pressure, poor diet, or chronic stress can cause the valve or aortic root to stretch more — worsening the regurgitation.

2. Heart muscle strain.
   The left ventricle has to pump harder to handle the extra blood volume flowing backward. This can lead to enlargement (hypertrophy) and eventually weakened heart function.

3. Symptoms may appear.
   Fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness, palpitations, and swelling in the legs can develop as the heart struggles to keep up.

4. Surgery becomes likely.
   If the leak becomes severe and the left ventricle weakens, valve repair or replacement — often open-heart surgery — may be the only option to restore normal circulation.

So yes, if you don’t take care of yourself, this condition can progress to the point of requiring surgery.

What Happens If You Do Take Care of Yourself

The encouraging news:
You can often stabilize mild aortic regurgitation — and sometimes prevent it from getting worse — through consistent lifestyle care.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Control blood pressure.
   High blood pressure is one of the biggest factors that speeds up valve damage. Keeping it in a healthy range (through diet, movement, stress control, and supplements if needed) reduces stress on the valve.

2. Anti-inflammatory nutrition.
   Eat foods that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress — think:

   • Leafy greens, berries, garlic, onions, avocado, olive oil, and wild fish.

   • Limit sugar, refined carbs, and trans fats.

   • Maintain a healthy weight to decrease strain on the heart.

3. Stay active — but smart.
   Gentle to moderate aerobic exercise like walking, swimming, or cycling keeps the heart strong without overstraining it.
   Avoid heavy lifting or high-intensity training unless cleared by your cardiologist.

4. Support your mitochondria.
   Your heart relies on massive amounts of cellular energy. Nutrients like magnesium, CoQ10, L-carnitine, and B vitamins support the energy production your heart muscle needs to stay resilient.

5. Regular monitoring.
   Mild regurgitation often just needs follow-up echocardiograms every 1–2 years. That allows early detection of any change in valve function or heart size.

6. Stress management & sleep.
   Chronic stress raises blood pressure and inflammation — the two enemies of valve health. Practices like breathwork, yoga, and restorative sleep are surprisingly protective.

The Big Picture

Think of it this way:

• Ignore it, and over time, that small leak can turn into a flood — leading to heart enlargement, fatigue, and possibly surgery.

• Take care of yourself, and you can often keep it mild for life — living fully and avoiding invasive treatment.

Bottom Line

Minor aortic regurgitation isn’t a sentence — it’s a signal. It means your heart is asking for support now before it becomes a problem later.

At Scho Fit, we help clients create realistic, science-based lifestyle plans that protect the heart and improve circulation naturally.
If you’ve been told you have mild regurgitation, or any early valve issue, you don’t have to wait until it’s serious.
Let’s strengthen your heart from the inside out.

👉 Learn more or book a consultation at www.scho.fit