Expert Commentary
Building strength and resilience: Your foundation for healthy aging
Madhu Henry, MD is a primary care physician board certified in internal medicine. Dr. Henry is dedicated to the prevention of disease, focusing on diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol management and their cumulative risk on the cardiovascular system. She integrates Western and Eastern medicine to expand access to care and improve patient outcomes. She sees patients in the Inova…
Read MoreInova’s severe COPD program gives patients more options
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that combines chronic bronchitis and emphysema, deal with persistent shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 16 million Americans have COPD, and many more probably have the disease but don’t know it. There is no cure for…
Read MoreInova introduces minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement to the region
Inova’s Structural Heart and Valve Disease Program is among the region’s first to offer transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR). This exciting milestone expands the range of minimally invasive cardiac procedures available at Inova to now include not only tricuspid valve repair but also replacement of the valve. “This is the first replacement technology alternative to…
Read MoreThe health benefits of social relationships: Cognitive and mental health perspectives
By Siva Ambalam, DO, MPH Human beings are social by nature, and the relationships we form throughout our lives play a crucial role in keeping our minds healthy. More and more research shows that having meaningful social connections isn’t just good for our emotional wellbeing – it’s also essential for protecting our brains and preventing…
Read MoreInnovations in joint replacements make surgery safer and more effective
Joint replacements are some of the most common orthopedic surgeries. In the United States, nearly 800,000 people get a knee replacement and almost 550,000 get a hip replacement each year. As people continue living longer, these procedures will become even more common. For years, researchers have been developing and perfecting joint replacement techniques and technologies.…
Read MoreWhat to eat to prevent colon cancer
Kelsey Coulter, RD, CSO, is a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in oncology at the Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center and Survivorship Clinic. Colorectal cancer screenings are the best way to prevent colorectal cancer and diagnose it early. A colonoscopy can detect and remove precancerous polyps and cancerous growths, providing both diagnosis and…
Read MoreIs it time for a colonoscopy?
Colorectal cancer – often called colon cancer – is one of the most preventable cancers when detected early. For many people, however, the idea of screening can feel intimidating. At Inova, our goal is to make screening easier, more accessible, and more comfortable, backed by the expertise of our expanding gastroenterology (GI) team. Early detection…
Read MoreCardiologist Lily Dastmalchi, DO, earns national menopause specialization credential
Lily N. Dastmalchi, DO, MA, FACC, FASPC, MSCP, is board certified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography and internal medicine. She leads the development of menopause services at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular and is one of the only cardiologists in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area who has earned a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) credential, affirming…
Read MoreSeven things you didn’t know about cervical cancer screening and prevention
Shawn Davis-Wilensky, MD, MPH, FACOG, is a board-certified OB-GYN. She practices at Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center. Cervical cancer used to be among the most common cancer killers of women. But thanks to advances in prevention and screening, the general outlook has improved significantly. Here are seven things that may surprise you about cervical cancer…
Read MoreThe American Heart Association has updated high blood pressure guidelines
In August 2025, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) published updated high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) guidelines. The guidelines, updated for the first time since 2017, include several new recommendations that patients and their primary care providers should know. “These are the most up-to-date guidelines for treating patients with one of…
Read More