Walter Reed remains at the forefront in providing cutting-edge care to its beneficiaries, including in non-invasive surgery and cardiac care.

“For the last 12 months we have been performing transcatheter aortic valve replacements where we go through the leg; we don’t open the chest,” said U.S. Army Maj. (Dr.) Amir Karimian, chief of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Walter Reed.

“When we go through the leg [patients] can recover in 24 hours. It’s taken something that would have been a couple weeks in the hospital or a three-month recovery [period], but now you can go back to your normal life within a week or two,” Karimian explained.

February is National Heart Health Month, and while Karimian and his team of heart care specialists provide exceptional care within the walls of Walter Reed, he stresses prevention to avoid surgery.

“Get your cholesterol checked,” he said.

He added that “high blood pressure is the silent killer,” which can lead to heart disease, kidney damage and other health challenges.

“If you have any risk factors, see your general practitioner or cardiologist,” said Karimian. “Heart disease is still the number one killer of Americans. Check your family history.”

Throughout February, staff members at Walter Reed have focused on events to draw awareness to heart health, beginning with Feb. 6 and National Wear Red Day. The annual campaign began as an observance to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women and has expanded to emphasize good heart health practices for everyone.

Cardiology fellow U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) Emily Strickland emphasized the difference in detecting signs of heart attacks in women versus men. What people often think of as classic symptoms of a heart attack — clutching chest pain, sweating and pain radiating down the left arm — may be typical for men, but not always for women.

“[Women have] more associated symptoms, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, pain in the jaw, neck and back, in addition to chest pain and discomfort,” she said. “Not just chest pain itself when compared to men.”

A heart-healthy diet plan Strickland recommends for men and women is the Mediterranean Diet, which means less processed foods, more whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean grains, and proteins.

“The Mediterranean Diet has been proven to combat heart disease in large population studies; they have shown that this diet can reduce heart problems. The key is less processed foods,” said Strickland.

On Feb. 24 in Building 39, there will be the 2026 Heart Health Awareness Fair, which will feature information on smoking cessation, cardiology, nutrition, and exercise.

For more information on the Walter Reed Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, visit walterreed.tricare.mil/Health-Services/Specialty-Care/Cardiology/Cardiac-Catheterization-Laboratory.