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Asha Tharakan, PA

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: Cardiology (Heart Disease)
Professional interests include: enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), bicuspid aortic valve disease, chest pain, and more.
9105 Franklin Square Drive Suite 209
Baltimore, MD 21237

Asha Tharakan, PA is in Baltimore, MD specializing in cardiology (heart disease). Asha Tharakan, PA is affiliated with MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Health and MEDSTAR MEDICAL GROUP II LLC.

View Provider's Full Profile (410) 574-1330

Office Locations

Address:

9105 Franklin Square Drive Suite 209
Baltimore, MD 21237

Some issues Asha Tharakan, PA can help you with:

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

Lung Issues

Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.

Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC)

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a device implantation procedure that reduces the risk of stroke for patients who have atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart beats out of rhythm. Atrial fibrillation causes blood to collect in the left atrial appendage, a small sac located in the top left chamber of the heart. The blood that collects in this appendage can form clots and cause stroke when pumped out of the heart.

To implant the device, a long, flexible tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a large vein in the groin and advanced to the heart. Once the tube reaches the left side of the heart, X-ray is used to guide a thinner catheter into the left atrial appendage. The tiny device is then passed through the tube and into the appendage. When the doctor has made sure it is in the right place, she takes the catheter out, and the procedure is completed.

This minimally invasive procedure usually requires a hospital stay of at least one day. Normal activities may be resumed within a few days. About 45 days following implantation, a test will be done to determine whether the device has closed the left atrial appendage. Check-ups have to be performed every year to make sure the device is in place.

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Asha Tharakan, PA for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Asha Tharakan, PA treated as in Baltimore, MD were hospital care, inpatient care, stress testing and cardiac procedures.

cardiac procedures 24
doctor visit 137
emergency care 10
hospital care 155
inpatient care 155
stress testing 24

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Asha Tharakan, PA.

Gender
Male 37
Female 46
Ethnicity
Black / African American 8
Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic White 52
Native American / Alaskan Native
Hispanic
Other
Age
75 to 84 30
85 and over 14
Less than 65 4
65 to 74 23

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Asha Tharakan, PA From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Asha Tharakan, PA treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 60
High Cholesterol 59
Stroke 5
Ischemic Heart Disease 59
Depression 14
Chronic Kidney Disease 42
Asthma 11
Osteoporosis 1
Heart Failure 33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 16
Diabetes 42
Atrial Fibrillation 20
Cancer 12
Dementia 7

Education & Training

She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant and has a state license in Maryland.

Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant

Licensed In: Maryland

Affiliations & Hospitals

Asha Tharakan, PA is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
MedStar Health
MEDSTAR MEDICAL GROUP II LLC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Asha Tharakan, PA appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Choice Fund PPO, MAMSI, First Health PPO, Blue Choice, Golden Rule, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Community Care Network (CCN), Coventry, TRICARE Reserve Select, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Select, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA Indemnity, AmeriHealth, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Coventry National Network PPO, Amerigroup, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, Virginia Premier Health Plan, WellPoint, Aetna, CIGNA Network Open Access, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), HealthyBlue PPO, MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst NASCO, CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO, Traditional Medicare Fee for Service, United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO), Innovation Health: Open POS Plus, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families, Carefirst EPO, Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus, United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program, CareFirst Administrators, United Student Resources, United Select HMO - EPO/NPP, United MD IPA Preferred (POS), United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO), Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP), Innovation Health: Network Only Plus, United MD IPA (HMO), United Choice Plus, CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans), Innovation Health: PPO, HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance, United Choice, United Optimum Choice, Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus), Innovation Health: POS, Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS), Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus, United Select Plus (POS), CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced, United Erickson Advantage Plans, Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice, Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS), Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN), D-SNP), I-SNP, CareFirst MedStar PPO, CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity, United Core Essential (HMO), Innovation Health: POS Plus, HumanaChoice PPO, United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP, Innovation Health: Open POS II, Innovation Health: Indemnity, United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, United Navigate, Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO, Police and Fire Clinic and CareFirst MedStar Select PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Asha Tharakan, PA accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA Choice Fund PPO
MAMSI
First Health PPO
Blue Choice
Golden Rule
Great-West Healthcare
TRICARE
Community Care Network (CCN)
Coventry
TRICARE Reserve Select
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Ratings & Reviews

Asha Tharakan, PA has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 360 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Asha Tharakan, PA from all over the web to help you find the right in Baltimore, MD. 

4.7
Overall Rating
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Biography

Ms. Asha Tharakan obtained a license to practice in Maryland.

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