Charlotte, NC-based neurologist Dr. Hemanth Rao divides his time between serving as president of The Neurological Institute and as medical director at Carolinas ContinueCare. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Hemanth Rao of Charlotte, NC, is a dedicated clinical researcher who has studied such conditions as epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by seizures.Most seizures can be categorized as one of two types: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures affect both the right and left hemispheres of the brain and occur when the nerve cells in the brain misfire. When a person experiences a generalized seizure, he or she may black out, have muscle spasms, or fall. There are six types of generalized seizures, including grand mal seizures, which are the most noticeable; tonic seizures; myoclonic seizures; and absence seizures, formerly known as petit mal seizures.Meanwhile, partial seizures, also known as local or focal seizures, affect one side or area of the brain. These types of seizures have varying physical or emotional effects and can make people hear, feel, or see things that aren’t real. Because of these symptoms, partial seizures may be mistaken for mental illness or another nerve disorder. Roughly 60 percent of people with epilepsy experience partial seizures.People with epilepsy may also experience both types of seizures. For example, a seizure may start as a partial seizure and then escalate to a generalized seizure.
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.
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.
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.
Before beginning his work in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao underwent post-doctoral study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he served as the chief resident. Now a neurologist with advanced training in neuromuscular disorders, Dr. Hemanth Rao cares for people with illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease through his practices in Charlotte, NC. In America, almost one million patients have Parkinson’s disease (PD), an illness characterized by gradual loss of mobility control. People with PD may develop disruptive symptoms such as slowness, balance loss, rigidity in the extremities, and uncontrollable tremors that make movement difficult. These symptoms can become more severe with time. Though scientists are working to discover the cause of PD, no one knows exactly why people develop the condition. Scientists do know that PD causes neurons in the brain to behave abnormally and die. Neurologists can help patients with PD manage the illness through drug treatments and surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation.
As the chief executive officer of The Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao treats patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The institute’s memory care staff and Dr. Hemanth Rao deliver a wide variety of dementia-focused treatments in Charlotte, NC, including speech, cognitive, and occupational therapies. A progressive brain disease, Alzheimer’s results in gradual decline as the condition interrupts cognitive functions and memory recall. In its later stages, Alzheimer’s renders impossible basic, day-to-day tasks, such as talking and dressing. Data indicates that up to five million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s. According to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s deaths skyrocketed by more than 50 percent between 1999 and 2014. Because age is a key risk factor for Alzheimer’s, experts believe the rise is in part a result of America’s aging population. Researchers predict that the number of patients living with Alzheimer’s in America will increase by more than three times over the next 33 years.
A resident of Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao serves as medical director of neurology for Carolinas ContinueCare. Supporting his work in neurology in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao maintains membership in professional organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology.Every year, the American Academy of Neurology offers annual meetings and conferences to provide educational opportunities to neurologists and other medical professionals. The fall 2017 conference will take place from October 20th through 22nd at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.The conference will include six practice management programs, 16 neurology update topics, and networking opportunities. Participants can earn as many as 15.75 CME credits over the weekend.Example credit-earning opportunities include Neurology Update I: Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune for 1.5 CME hours. The program will take place on Friday, October 20th, from 8:00 to 9:30am. Directed by Dr. Nancy J. Newman and Dr. Neeraj Kumar, it will include two sessions, the first on multiple sclerosis and the second on autoimmune neurology.For more information about CME credit earning opportunities at the conference or to learn more about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.
In 2013, Dr. Hemanth Rao became the medical director of neurology at Carolina's ContinueCare in Charlotte, NC. In his role as the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao gained extensive clinical research experience in areas such as psychosis in Parkinson's patients.Those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may experience well-known symptoms of major psychiatric illnesses referred to as psychosis; these symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.Delusions are defined as any irrational and illogical ideas, including paranoia. Hallucinations refer to the sensation of something not there in reality. Patients cannot control these unintended symptoms, but can find help dealing with them from mental health professionals.In order to treat psychotic symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease, medical professionals must first identify their source. Common reasons include delirium, dementia, and side effects from medication given to treat the disease. Medications for treating Parkinson's disease increase dopamine in the brain to counter the brain's loss or decreased functioning of dopamine-producing neurons. However, while increasing dopamine levels enhances motor function in the body, an excess of dopamine can also lead to psychotic symptoms.
A graduate of Madras Medical College in India, Dr. Hemanth Rao is a neurologist and clinical researcher in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Hemanth Rao functions as the chief executive officer of The Neurological Institute, PA, which offers the Comprehensive Head Injury Program (CHIP) for patients experiencing mental and cognitive issues that often accompany severe head trauma.CHIP is an eight-week program during which participants with head injuries engage in regular sessions with the same therapists. Seeing the same therapists consistently is particularly helpful to patients who experience confidence and trust issues as a result of their injuries.Further to intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy, the program assesses patients’ ability to drive and provides educational resources to both patients and their families. Patients also undertake weekly meetings with their case managers and have access to support groups and structured group therapy sessions that focus on helping participants develop the skills required to re-enter the community and, potentially, the workplace.CHIP is available to patients aged 18 or over who have experienced traumatic head injuries at or after age 13.
Dr. Hemanth Rao is a longtime neurologist who serves The Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, as CEO. Prior to moving to Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao completed his residency at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which is an academic and clinical hub of Northwell Health.As part of its educational offerings, Northwell Health operates a residency training program focused on the specialty of neurology. The three-year program provides participants with the skills required to independently practice neurology and meets the training requirements of both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Residents in the program work alongside clinicians at several teaching sites, with each receiving extensive personal attention and gaining exposure both to the general neurology field and a range of sub-specializations, including movement disorders, epilepsy, strokes, and neuro-oncology, among others.Beyond this, the residents participate in various rounds and conferences and engage in the program’s outpatient clinics, which simulate the private-practice setting and thus place the standards of care provided to patients as a priority.
Dr. Hemanth Rao, the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute of Charlotte, NC, also takes an active role in clinical research into treatments for brain and nerve disorders. Dr. Hemanth Rao of Charlotte, NC, has contributed to several new approaches targeting Alzheimer's disease.In developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, one of the most significant challenges is the blood-brain barrier. This thin membrane, designed to protect the brain from infectious agents, causes a problem for researchers in that it also prevents crucial therapeutic agents from entering the brain.Now, however, a team of scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute has found that ultrasound waves may be effective in helping drugs to cross that barrier. The researchers were able to use scanning ultrasonography to deliver antibodies to the brains of mice exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's. This treatment proved effective in reducing the number of the tau proteins that contribute to disease progression, thus mitigating symptoms.The team believes that this treatment may be similarly effective in reducing tau concentrations in human patients. If so, the technique could also prove promising in treating other neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
