Dr. Prashanthi Atluri established Northlake Cardiology and WellCare Center to provide holistic and lifestyle-based medicine that supports wellness and disease reversal rather than merely treating patients based on their symptoms alone. Inspired by the work of Dr. J.H. Tilden and Dr. Herbert M. Shelton, who advocated for wellness-based health models in the late 1800s and early 1900s, she emphasizes that some diseases stem from the body’s inability to eliminate its own waste, a condition known as toxemia.

“Cardiology is synonymous with lifestyle medicine,” she asserts. “If you examine our habits, our dietary choices, and what we put into our bodies, addressing these factors at their root cause can render many modern-day cardiac issues nonexistent.”

Dr. Atluri received training in internal medicine and general cardiology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. After more than a decade at University Medical Center, she experienced personal health challenges and found conventional treatment options unsatisfactory.

“I was prescribing medications, but I never truly felt at ease,” she explains. “When I began to delve into the potential side effects and the notion of dependency on medications, especially when considering my daughter’s health, I knew I had to explore alternative options without such risks.”

Continuing her quest for better solutions, Dr. Atluri realized the significance of nutrition and lifestyle choices, which are often overlooked in medical education. “In medical school, we’re taught to prescribe specific vitamins, minerals, and medications, but we receive minimal guidance on lifestyle,” she notes. “Recognizing that we cannot heal within the same system that contributed to our illnesses underscores the importance of proper diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management in our lives.”

At Northlake Cardiology and WellCare Center, Dr. Atluri begins each patient’s journey with a comprehensive health history assessment and offers various treatment options, including conventional medicine approaches. However, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing health rebuilding strategies. “By integrating more positive elements into our lifestyle, we observe an increase in positive health indicators and a decrease in negative ones,” she emphasizes. “As the body becomes nourished with proper nutrients, rest, and stress reduction, the need for medications diminishes.”

Dr. Atluri highlights the pitfalls of the Standard American Diet (SAD) and over-reliance on pharmaceuticals to suppress symptoms, stressing that the body cannot effectively digest, repair, and detoxify simultaneously. Her prescription for a healthier life is straightforward: “Consume more plant-based and natural foods, avoid highly processed foods, spend time in sunlight and nature, and prioritize meaningful relationships by practicing active listening.”