Posts by Inova Editors
Veronica’s Story — Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation Repair
At 73 years of age, Veronica Singh had a lot of living left to do. She wanted to enjoy daily walks and work in her garden. But a heart condition known as tricuspid valve regurgitation was holding her back. Veronica was short of breath and unable to sleep. She couldn’t walk around her condo without…
Read MoreStroke Is Treatable — But Every Second Counts: Learn why it’s so important to call 9-1-1
On average, someone has a stroke in the U.S. every 40 seconds. Each day, about 400 people die from stroke. Stroke is treatable. But every second counts. By learning to spot the signs — and calling 911 immediately — you can save a life. Stroke Signs: Timing Matters Nearly 9 in every 10 strokes is…
Read MoreCongenital Heart Disease Patient Gets Second Surgery & Second Chance
“You need open-heart surgery.” With those five words, Scott Boccia’s world turned upside down. Scott had always been healthy and active. “I was the kid that played every sport possible. I went on to play, and later coach, college football,” he says. In his 40s, he was a busy dad to three young kids and…
Read MoreThe Dangers of High Blood Pressure: Why You Should Know Your Numbers
Henry Tran, MD, is a cardiovascular care physician at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. He is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and echocardiography. High blood pressure is extremely common. But that doesn’t mean it’s nothing to worry about. Untreated high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can lead to a variety of serious health problems.…
Read MoreBreastfeeding Problems? We Can Help!
Karen Bodnar, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician at Inova Children’s Hospital and breastfeeding medicine specialist at the Inova Center for Breastfeeding Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and is an Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Feeding your baby seems like it should be the…
Read MoreConcussion Recovery: A Long, Hard Journey Ends with Relief
Jennifer Anderson (not her real name) was watching a volleyball match when a wayward ball flew into the sidelines where she was standing and slammed into the back of her head. Over the next few days, she experienced headaches, fatigue and nausea. She was dizzy and extremely sensitive to sound and light. Anderson spent her…
Read MoreSports Medicine Physicians: Treating Sports Injuries as a Team
You’ve suffered a sports injury, and you need to see a doctor. Should you head to the orthopedic surgeon? Or would a primary care sports medicine specialist be a better bet? Sports injuries come in all shapes and sizes, and treatments vary, too. It helps to understand what each of these sports medicine specialists does…
Read MoreColorectal Cancer Prevention
Updated guidelines reinforce the effectiveness of screenings In response to a higher incidence of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50, the American Cancer Society (ACS) updated its screening guidelines in 2018. Previously, ACS recommended that people with no colorectal cancer symptoms and no family history of the disease start getting screened at…
Read MoreWhat is AFib? A Guide to Atrial Fibrillations Symptoms & Treatments
Matthew W. Sherwood, MD, MHS, is board-certified in interventional cardiology, cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. Marc H. Wish, MD, is board-certified in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Sherwood and Dr. Wish practice at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. Atrial fibrillation — commonly called AFib — is a heart rhythm problem that causes…
Read MorePreventing Heart Problems: Take Action for a Healthy Heart
Henry Tran, MD, is a cardiologist at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. He is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and echocardiography. First the bad news: Heart disease is both common and deadly. Heart disease causes 1 of every 4 deaths in the United States each year, making it the top cause of death in both men…
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