Friday, September 29, 2017

Ways to Manage Your Insomnia


As the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao treats patients with a variety of neurological issues. In addition to practicing as a neurologist in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao has been an active clinical researcher for more than two decades and has studied such conditions as insomnia.

Chronic insomnia can lead to numerous health problems. Fortunately, the condition is treatable through home remedies or medication. Below are a few ways you can try improving your sleep and managing your insomnia:

1. Limiting certain substances--particularly alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine--makes a huge difference in your sleep habits. However, you don’t have to remove these substances from your daily life completely. Simply avoid them in the evenings.

2. Before going to bed, start practicing a routine. This may include taking a shower, listening to calming music, or any other relaxing behavior. By establishing and maintaining a routine, you are better able to tell your brain that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep.

3. If you are unable to sleep after around 20 minutes, try getting up and doing a quiet task. Doing so prevents your mind from associating the bed with an inability to sleep and can reduce incidences of insomnia later on.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Memory Institute Uses Comprehensive Approach for Dementia Treatment


The president and CEO of The Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao possesses more than 25 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Hemanth Rao’s clinic treats patients with memory issues and various forms of dementia through the Memory Institute. 

The Memory Institute offers comprehensive care for patients with dementia and their families through a treatment approach unlike any other in the Charlotte, NC, region. Treatment plans take the patient’s family and lifestyle into account and ensure that all individuals involved in caregiving remain fully educated on treatment recommendations, community resources, and at-home strategies. Neurologists and caregivers collaborate to provide a more fulfilling life for patients and foster their ability to function independently.

Services provided by the Memory Institute range from cognitive and speech evaluations to occupational therapy assessments and familial resources. In addition, the institute conducts research studies and evaluations through a team of board-certified neurologists with training and experience in dementia and memory loss. Memory screenings are also available for elderly patients and individuals who recently sustained head injuries.

Friday, September 1, 2017

The Symptoms of Multifocal Motor Neuropathy


Charlotte, NC-based neurologist Dr. Hemanth Rao possesses more than 30 years of medical experience. As president and CEO of The Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao provides care to patients who suffer from a wide range of conditions, including multifocal motor neuropathy.

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is most often seen among individuals between the ages of 35 and 70. Men are roughly two times as likely to develop the condition as women, but the disorder is still fairly rare and only affects one in 100,000 people. 

There are several symptoms associated with MMN, but the most common is weakness in the arms and hands. Some patients experience involuntary twitching in the affected muscles, along with cramping, as the condition progresses, and in the later stages of the condition, they may experience atrophy.

When MMN starts developing, individuals often experience these symptoms in a specific part of the arm or hand, such as the wrist or finger. These symptoms often only affect the right or left side of the body at first. Although these symptoms may expand to both sides of the body over time, they are often more severe on the side on which they first appeared. The condition can affect the lower limbs, but it is typically only seen in the hands and lower arms.

As an individual ages, symptoms worsen, and this can lead to a great deal of dysfunction and disability. With a few exceptions, MMN is not life-threatening, does not cause major problems with swallowing or breathing, and is not painful.