Hypertension Doctors Maryland
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Hypertension
Hypertension is a dangerous disease that if left untreated can lead to severe consequences. Our doctors understand that hypertension can be spurred on by a plethora of non-medical reasons and this is why we use our integrative medical treatments to ensure we are getting down to the root cause.
Diagnosing the root cause allows us to craft the perfect integrative medical treatment plans for our patients.
How We Treat Hypertension
At Shakthi we use comprehensive diagnostic testing and in-depth consultations to get a complete understanding of your health condition. If hypertension is diagnosed then the next step is start a treatment plan.
Our treatment plans may include traditional methods of prescription medication and lifestyle changes, but it may also include some of the alternative and complementary treatments our wellness center offers. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation or learn more, just use the resource below!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hypertension doctor?
A hypertension doctor is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
What causes high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can have a variety of causes, including genetics, lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, and underlying medical conditions such as kidney disease or sleep apnea.
What are some common treatments for high blood pressure?
Common treatments for high blood pressure include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, medications such as diuretics or ACE inhibitors, and in some cases, medical procedures such as renal artery stenosis.
How is high blood pressure diagnosed?
High blood pressure is typically diagnosed through a blood pressure reading taken by a healthcare professional. If high blood pressure is suspected, additional tests may be ordered to determine the underlying cause.
What should I expect during my first appointment with a hypertension doctor?
During your first appointment, your hypertension doctor will likely review your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and order any necessary tests. They will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan based on your individual needs.
How often should I see my hypertension doctor?
The frequency of appointments will depend on the severity of your condition and the treatment plan developed by your doctor. Some patients may need to see their hypertension doctor every few weeks or months, while others may only need to check in periodically.
Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and alternative therapies to enhance a patient’s vitality, focusing on whole body wellness. An Integrative Medicine physician will address the root cause of your illness and not just treat the symptoms. By determining what the root is, you and your practitioner can devise a health plan to successfully treat the disease. At Shakthi, we take into account other factors in your life that may be preventing the root cause of your illness or disease from fully healing. We work closely with our patients to address their immediate health needs while developing a personalized wellness plan that encourages whole body wellness. You can learn more here.
Integrative medicine’s biggest benefit is the fact it looks at the patient as a whole individual and addresses the root causes of illnesses by doing so. I went along with this though integrative medicine promotes a symbiotic and collaborative relationship between the doctor and the patient. This means that there is better communication. Another great benefit is that it utilizes every therapy possible to ensure that the patient gets the treatment that is perfect for them.
Over the past decade or so, integrative medicine has been becoming more and more popular. Because of this popularity, there has been an increase in doctors that practice it. But even with all this popularity unfortunately insurance does not cover integrative health care. The lack of coverage from insurance companies is solely because integrative medicine often encompasses treatments that these health insurance companies degenerative treatments. Because these treatments like acupuncture, massage therapy, infrared sauna, and many others are all deemed alternative they are not covered.
We offer two options:
• Yearly Membership
• A La Carte
There are many different types of alternative medicines but many of them can fall under one of the five main alternative categories. These categories are homeopathy, eastern medicine, naturopathy, and Ayurveda. Within these five types so there are many variations and so choosing one that works for you all relies on what exactly you're looking to gain from choosing alternative medicines.
What does Shakthi Mean?
Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.
Shakthi Digital Guide
At Shakthi Health and Wellness we offer a la carte and yearly plans that are more comprehensive and often cheaper than traditional insurance plans.
What To Expect
Hypertension Specialists
Meet Our Doctors
Our team is composed of skilled medical professionals who are highly knowledgeable in integrative therapies to help address hypertension.
Our Specialized Health Care model provides patients with in depth consults with each appointment without the restrictions of time limits and jumping through insurance hoops. Our gut health doctors in Maryland, Dr. Jyothi Rao and Dr. Sudhir Rao, have the same medical training, licensing, and certifications any other physician would have working in other healthcare models
Jyothi Rao
MD, ABAAHP, FAARFM
Dr. Jyothi Rao is the founder of Shakthi Health and Wellness Center. She has over 20 years of experience with integrative, holistic, alternative, and complementary approaches to medicine. Dr. Rao believes knowledge is empowerment and focusses her practice on whole body wellness, and disease prevention
Sudhir Rao
MD, ABAAHP
Dr. Sudhir Rao is a board certified doctor over 20 years of experience with traditional medicine and alternative medicines for chronic pain. he developed a strong interest in Functional and Integrative Medicine to treat chronic illness after a personal experience with limitations in traditional medicine.
Our Doctors
What Is Integrative Medicine?
Hypertension Defined
Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. To fully understand what hypertension is you have to really have a good understanding of blood pressure itself. Blood pressure measures the pressure of one’s blood as it pushes against the walls of the individual’s blood vessels.
Blood pressure is noted as two separate numbers. The number on the top correlates to the systolic pressure. This number is the measurement of the blood vessel walls when the heart contract. The lower number s diastolic and is the measurement of the pressure when the heart relaxes.
Typically, hypertension is looked at in four categories:
- Normal – under 130/80
- Stage 1 – 130 -139/80-89
- Stage 2 – 140/90 +
- Hypertensive Crisis – 180/120 +
When our doctors at Shakthi Health and Wellness look to diagnose you, they will much as traditional doctors give you one of two diagnoses.
The two diagnoses that come with hypertension are:
- Primary – This is the most common type of hypertension and can be caused by not only unhealthy habits but age.
- Secondary – This type of hypertension is typically brought on by other medical conditions or prescription medication.
Close-up of young professional nurse in a duster measuring older woman's with hypertension blood pressure
What Causes Hypertension?
What causes hypertension Is not specifically known but there are several factors that could potentially play a role in it. One of the main factors to look at is the genetic history of the patient. But along with that, these factors could contribute to a patient’s hypertension:
- limited physical activity
- weight issues
- smoking
- stress
- age
- alcohol consumption
- too much salt in the diet
- sleep apnea
- kidney disease
- disorders of the adrenal and thyroid glands
Problems That Hypertension Can Cause
Chronic hypertension can cause serious damage to an individual’s body. It can affect major organs like the kidneys, heart, brain, and eyes. If you can manage your blood pressure with an integrative plan like the doctor at Shakthi Health and Wellness will develop.
But if left unchecked you may experience some serious health issues including:
- heart attack/heart disease: Hypertension can damage the arteries decreasing their elasticity. This in turn will affect the blood flow and thereby the oxygen that gets to your heart. This will lead to heart disease and that can in turn lead to heart problems. This includes angina, heart attack, and heart failure.
- stroke/brain issues: The reduced elasticity of the arteries will also reduce the amount of blood and oxygen the brain receives. The reduction of oxygen can damage the cells in the brain. It can also cause blockage or bursting of those vessels which results in stroke.
- kidney disease: For those that are suffering from diabetes those with high blood pressure may also experience kidney issues including chronic kidney disease.
Symptoms to Look For
Hypertension can show itself in many different ways. Understanding how to spot the signs and symptoms can help us build a comprehensive and integrative treatment plan to address all the potential root causes of your hypertension.
Here are some of the most common symptoms:
- Consistent nosebleeds
- Extreme headaches
- Problems with vision
- Chest pain
- Excessive fatigue
- Breathing difficulties
- Heartbeat irregularities
- Urine in the blood
- Excessive pounding in ears, neck, or chest
Some other symptoms that could be a sign of hypertension but also may be a sign of other health issues are:
- Sweating
- Redness of the face
- Dizziness
- Nausea
If one any of these symptoms becomes a regular issue then you should definitely reach out to our doctors and let us use our integrative practices to help you diagnose if this is your issue and create a treatment plan for you.
Diagnosing Hypertension
The symptoms we talked about above are not expressly tied to just hypertension and that makes diagnosing quite difficult. This is why at every appointment or check-up doctors take your blood pressure. If upon two occurrences they find that you have high blood pressure you will be diagnosed with hypertension.
This test is of course executed using the traditional blood pressure cuff. Once our doctors have determined that you are suffering from hypertension there may be further tests required. These tests may include:
- Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring: This test is designed to check your blood pressure at regular intervals over a set amount of time which can range from six hours all the way to a full 24.
- Labs: To check how bad the hypertension is and if there has been any damage done blood and urine tests may be required.
- ECG/EKG: Both of these tests are used to monitor the electrical activities of the heart. They monitor how slow or fast the patient’s heart is beating.
- Echocardiogram: Sound waves are used to create very detailed images of the patients beating heart. This allows the doctors to see how well the blood is moving through the heart.
Along with these tests, our integrative treatment plans may also require the patient to do blood pressure testing at home via the blood pressure cuff.
Preventative Measures
One of the major factors of hypertension is a family history of dealing with high blood pressure. That means one of the most important aspects of a wellness plan is to include preventive treatments. These will not alleviate all the risks of having to deal with hypertension if you are predisposed to it, but they could help extremely.
Some of these preventive measures include:
Weight Management
When you are overweight more stress is put on your systems and this could bring on hypertension. So maintaining a healthy body weight or losing some weight may help prevent hypertension.
Remove Salt
Salt is in a lot of different processed and canned goods. So even if you are someone who watches this you may want to remove some of these from your diet. This is because a reduction in salt has been shown to lower blood pressure and that means reducing the risk of hypertension.
Be More Active
Physical activity helps keep all your systems running at top performance. By ensuring you have good circulation and mobility you will be reducing the risk of hypertension rearing its head.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol can have a ton of negative effects on an individual’s body. So limiting the consumption of it can be a good tactic for preventing a lot of health issues including hypertension.
Changes in Diet
Moving to a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent hypertension.
Alternative Ways to Treat Hypertension
Dietary Supplements
There are some vitamins and supplements that have been shown to help in reducing blood pressure and there for sure effective for hypertension. Changing the way you eat and then including supplements is a great way to not only treat but prevent hypertension.
Here are a few of those:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (like fish oil)
- CoQ10
- Magnesium Citrate
- Green Coffee
- Calcium
- L-Arginine
- Potassium
- Vitamin D
Herbal Remedies
Herbal medicine has been used for centuries to treat a whole plethora of health issues. Hypertension can be helped by taking remedies that boost the body’s systems. Of course, they may interact with certain medications but once the doctors have been consulted using them may be a viable option to include in an integrative treatment plan.
Some herbs that have been known to help with hypertension are:
- Reishi mushroom
- Garlic
- Hibiscus
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used to help improve circulation and healing in individuals for centuries. Improved circulation can help keep your heart healthy and that in turn reduces the risk of hypertension.
Massage
Stress and anxiety can be one of the root causes of hypertension. That means that any treatment that helps you relax is a good option to help fight hypertension. This means one of the alternative treatments that our doctors may include in your integrative treatment plans is massage therapy.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness includes a wide range of practices under that umbrella. From yoga to journaling several options could be worked not your integrative treatment. Mindfulness is all about honing skills that help stay grounded and present which in turn reduces the stress and anxiety one has to deal with.
Less stress and anxiety can help improve your overall health and certainly helps address some of the root causes of hypertension. So, you may find yoga, meditation, or even energy treatments like reiki included in our doctor's comprehensive wellness plan.
About Us
We believe in practicing medicine that focuses on whole body health. As integrative medicine doctors we focus our on root cause of hypertension with comprehensive treatments that actually heal the body rather than just masking the symptoms of your illness.
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Patient Testimonials
Patient Testimonials
I started by seeing Dr. Sudhir Rao for my Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Syndrome. I had an accident in July 2010 that caused nerve damage in my ankle. After treatments and surgery, it spread up the entire left side of my body. The only way to describe how you feel is by saying you’re a human pinball machine ? you just never know where the pain is going to be that minute. I had asked about acupuncture because someone had told me that it worked for them. I was at the point of trying anything to lessen the pain because it was getting worse every day.
- Susan Doyle
I am actually a relatively healthy 50-year-old woman. I try to eat well and exercise, but I (like many) felt the creep of age in the form a subtle pounds and decreasing energy. Dr. Rao helped point me in the direction of the correct detox program for me (Core Restore!) as well as the supplements I needed to boost my metabolism and increase my energy! I still need to eat what works for me and avoid the things that don't, and I still have to exercise every day, but my clothes fit better and I have more energy!!
- Shakthi Patients
I came to see Dr. Rao with symptoms of chronic fatigue, abdominal pains, depression, and weight gain. I had seen a couple other doctors and they had found that I had very high inflammation levels and over 15 food allergies/sensitivities. They wanted me to just take prescription drugs, but I wanted more than a quick fix. I wanted my health and my life back! When I scheduled the appointment, I was surprised how by helpful Kelly was on the phone. I didn’t know the details of my insurance coverage and Kelly offered to call my insurance for me. I’ve never had anyone at a doctor’s office do that before.
- Anna Smoot
After visiting the Shakthi website and reading other patient testimonials, I was curious about the wide variety of treatments that were available. I have a very slow metabolism, was fatigued, had insomnia, back pain, and just didn’t feel as well as I wanted to in general. I had more allergic reactions and respiratory issues in the preceding months before coming to see Dr. Jyothi Rao. I had completed three courses of prednisone while under the treatment of my traditional doctor and was fed up with that cycle and was looking for another path.
- Debbie Helman
I was given the gift of Dr. Rao's primary care for Christmas in 2016. I didn?t take advantage of it until March of 2017. My mindset at the time was negative. I had heard about changing eating habits and I felt that I liked the foods I was eating and I was nearly 70, so why change now? After meeting with Dr. Rao and hearing her suggestions, I said I would take it one small step at a time and see what happens.
- Linda J.
I was in the worst shape of my life with depression and anxiety. I had given up. Shakthi provided me with a manageable plan that included supplements, diet, and an exercise program that has transformed my body and given me a new outlook on life. Perhaps the most surprising outcome was learning how to be healthy and have a good relationship with my body. I am now more productive, energetic, and focused. The fog that had been clouding my thoughts has lifted.
- Shakthi Patient
What To Expect
How Treatment Works
Our doctors and staff take time to get invested in your health and well-being. We've taken a step back from mainstream medicine and are challenging the norm. Everyone's healthcare needs are different. You are different. We believe patients shouldn't settle. Our practice is not a revolving door. We listen, and most importantly, we hear you.
Appointments
Appointments are conducted on an as-needed basis. Patients can expect appointments to be more thorough and focused on their needs. As integrative speciality care doctors, we see a limited number of patients which means each of our patients receives dedicated care without the concern of being “rushed” our of an appointment.
Diagnostic Testing
We offer patients scientifically backed health assessments to better understand the root causes of their health conditions. We evaluate any disruptions to your health and body to develop effective wellness plans to optimize your vitality. To learn more about the specific tests we offer visit this page here.
Costs Involved
Patients receive personalized and tailored care in exchange for a flat fee. Overall cost will be discussed during your initial consultation. Each subsequent appointment will not need to be individually paid for. All patients receive unlimited access to their physicians which leads to better overall health and wellness.
Find A Location
Shakthi Health and Wellness Center is proud to offer patients access to Integrative Speciality Care services in Mount Airy and Elkridge, Maryland. Patients can comfortably enjoy a spacious and soothing lobby before being taken back for their appointments. Our exam rooms provides patients with a tranquil environment to promote emotional and physical healing.
In our office you will also find our Shakthi Kitchen, our state-of-the-art sport performance facility, our Infrared Sauna, and our Biomat and Acupuncture room.
As a Shakthi patient you will have access to these facilities through our premium plan or you can choose to access them individually via our A La Carte offerings.