Cardiologist pushes six-step plan to reverse chronic disease

Cardiologist James Marcum says the U.S. chronic disease burden is becoming economically unsustainable and needs a prevention-first response. His new book, The Creator’s Code, pairs lifestyle guidance, research and biblical principles with six natural practices aimed at improving heart health and other chronic conditions.

Why it matters: - Cardiovascular disease, obesity and other chronic conditions continue to strain patients, providers and the economy despite billions spent on treatment. - James Marcum argues the current system focuses too heavily on managing symptoms and too little on preventing or reversing the underlying causes of chronic illness. - Marcum says better outcomes will require practical tools that address lifestyle factors behind long-term disease risk.

What happened: - Marcum, a Chattanooga cardiologist and Heartwise Ministries speaker/director, is promoting a new book, The Creator’s Code, co-written with Dr. Roger Seheult. - The book outlines six natural practices intended to help readers address cardiovascular disease and other chronic health challenges. - The release frames the book as a guide for prevention, treatment support and personal health change.

The details: - Marcum said the U.S. chronic disease problem is “economically unsustainable” and that spending continues to rise “with little to show for it.” - Marcum said his views were shaped in part by his own heart attack, which happened after he collapsed at the top of a Denver ski run. - The Creator’s Code combines practical lifestyle guidance, medical research and biblical principles. - The book presents a step-by-step approach that starts with understanding individual needs, explains the reasoning behind the method and then turns the ideas into practical, evidence-based actions. - Marcum says modern medicine can keep people alive longer, but has made limited progress in stopping or reversing the processes that drive coronary heart disease. - The book is meant to give readers clarity and a sense of empowerment as they face cardiovascular risk. - The book is described as practical and evidence-based, with a focus on prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. - Nick Evenson of Heartwise Ministries said the book was a “wake-up call” because it made him realize he was drifting toward a disease that can go unnoticed until it is too late. - Marcum said the book is “not another regimen that merely manages your symptoms” and instead offers “a way to address the root cause.”

Between the lines: - The message blends medical advice with faith-based framing, which may broaden the book’s appeal to readers looking for a lifestyle and spiritual approach. - The emphasis on reversal, not just management, positions the book against a more conventional chronic-care model. - Marcum’s personal health scare is being used as a credibility signal for his prevention-first argument.

What’s next: - The book, The Creator’s Code: A Cardiologist’s Biblical Diet & Lifestyle to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and Reclaim Your Life, is set up as the main vehicle for Marcum’s six-step message. - TEACH Services, Inc. is publishing the book. - The release date is Aug. 6, 2026. - The ISBN-13 is 978-1479619542. - More information is available on Heartwise Ministries. - The book is available from Amazon.

The bottom line: - Marcum’s pitch is straightforward: chronic disease is too costly to keep treating the same way, and prevention-focused daily habits may offer a more durable path forward.