About Hypertension Institute

The Hypertension Institute specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, angina, congestive heart failure, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, weight management, exercise, lifestyle changes for the prevention of vascular disease, vascular aging and methods to slow aging. We provide patients with the latest clinical research, patient care, education, sophisticated specialty, primary care, and hypertensive and cardiovascular treatments. The Institute strives to prevent complications such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and cerebrovascular accidents (stroke). It is through in-depth consultation, examination, non-drug and drug treatment that patients are able to permanently modify their lifestyles and reduce cardiovascular risk. The Hypertension Institute offers specific programs in nutrition, nutritional supplements exercise, and weight loss, as well as a Facial Rejuvenation Center, and a diagnostic lab. Our Institute is staffed with registered nurses, nutritionist, exercise trainer, and a physician who is board-certified in hypertension by The American Society for Hypertension (ASH), Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine, the American Academy of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, as well as academic certification and Masters of Science Degrees in Functional Medicine, Human Nutrition and Metabolic Medicine. The Hypertension Institute also offers numerous national and worldwide trials for new drugs and nutritional and nutraceuticals to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

The Hypertension Institute is one of a prestigious group of organizations selected by a national committee of experts to be a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence (COSEHC) in the US. The Hypertension Institute incorporates recent clinical research on aging and teaches you how to use this information to live a longer, healthier life. For the first time ever, we have the power and the knowledge to change our fate and make a real difference in both the quality and quantity of our lives.

Vitamins, nutrients, nutraceuticals, antioxidants, and other supplements may help to protect the body against toxic compounds and free radicals that may accelerate the aging process and vascular disease.

The History of Hypertension Institute

The Hypertension Institute was founded in 1995 by Dr. Mark Houston, internist, and hypertension/cardiovascular specialist, and Dr. Allen Naftilin, cardiologist and hypertension specialist, at St. Thomas West Hospital and St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, TN. The Hypertension Institute immediately received national acclaim as one of the leading Institutes in the US for the treatment of hypertension and related cardiovascular disorders. In 2000, the Hypertension Institute was recognized as one of the top Cardiovascular Centers in the Southeast by the Consortium of Southeastern Hypertension Centers (COSEHC). Dr. Jordon Asher, internal medicine and hypertension specialist, and Dr. Ralph Hawkins, nephrologist and hypertension specialist, joined the Hypertension Institute later. The Hypertension Institute is now one of the most internationally recognized Cardiovascular Institutes worldwide with patients from all countries seeking consultation with specialists.

Houston is Director of the Hypertension Institute and is tripled boarded in hypertension as an American Society of Hypertension (ASH) specialist and Fellow of the American Society of Hypertension (FASH), Internal Medicine (ABIM), and Anti-aging medicine (ABAARM). He also has two Masters of Science degrees in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport in CT and a second Masters of Science degree in Functional and Metabolic Medicine from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The Hypertension Institute offers specialty care in the treatment of hypertension, lipids, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Advanced cardiovascular and hypertension clinical testing, clinical research and education, utilizing nutrition, nutritional supplements, exercise programs, lifestyle modification, and pharmacology provide Integrative Management for all Hypertensive disorders and co-morbid conditions such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and heart disease (heart attack, heart failure, stroke, renal disease, etc.). The Hypertension Institute provides early detection and aggressive integrative prevention and treatment of vascular and cardiac disease. We have one of the most sophisticated programs available to detect, slow, and treat vascular aging. Specialized tests such as intracellular micronutrient testing, telomere testing for aging, genotyping, omega 3 index, endothelial dysfunction testing with ENDOPAT and CAPWA, expanded lipid profiles with LPP, and much more allow us to provide excellent preventive cardiology care.

The Hypertension Institute has provided public health symposiums free of charge to patients for over 15 years at St. Thomas West Hospital, has completed over 80 clinical research studies in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and lipid disorders, and has treated over 10,000 patients worldwide. Our success and our published results are unequaled for hypertension control. In one published clinical study, the Hypertension Institute was able to get 62 % of compliant patients who followed the Hypertension Institute program to taper or discontinue anti-hypertensive drugs in 6-12 months. (Houston MC, The role of cellular micronutrient analysis, nutraceuticals, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals in the prevention and treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Ther Adv Cardiovas Dis 2010;4(3):165-183. (See published studies.) Patients come from all over the globe for consultation and treatment (Europe, UK, Asia, Australia, South America, and Central American, and Canada). The Hypertension Institute is recognized as the leading institute nationally and internationally for the treatment of hypertension. We welcome your consultation and look forward to seeing you and helping you.