Tag Archives: fort myers doctor

05.01.20
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Get a Healthier Spine with Chiropractic Care in Fort Myers, Florida

spine-health-fort-myers-florida-back-pain-neck-pain-dr-kaster-800x533

spine-health-fort-myers-florida-back-pain-neck-pain-dr-kaster-800x533Physical pain costs us a lot emotionally and monetarily.

Chronic pain takes over your every thought… conversely, if you have luckily never been in pain on an ongoing basis, it isn’t something you would likely think about or consider proactive treatment for… but you might just want to pause for a moment and consider…

You can achieve a healthier spine through chiropractic care.

A surprising 90% of the United States population may just be affected by a spine misalignment and accompanying back or neck pain at some point during their life. This includes those involved in accidents, those who lift heavy weight repeatedly or do repetitive motions for work or sport, those who are overweight, and smokers. With all of these high-risk categories, it’s a good idea to be supportive proactively of your spine health so that problems never develop.

How to maintain a healthy skeletal system

Manage your weight. It is far too easy to gain weight and not notice until you have packed on 20, 30 or more. Staying within 10 lbs of your ideal body weight is the most healthy option.  When we gain weight, our bodies distribute it evenly.  But if you picked up a 30 lb. weight and tried to carry it around for an hour you might get a better idea of what you are doing to your body. Every organ has to work harder. That means more wear and tear, especially on the spine.

Strength training. Muscle is the support for your spine. Lack of muscle tone makes it more likely you will pull things out of place and cause subluxations. subluxations lead to pain and if left untreated deterioration and even disease.

Eat healthy in reasonable portions. When dining out portions in the USA are not reasonable. Restaurants give you the most for your money. That can mean dishing out each customer a plate with 2 to 3 servings of food on it. Clean your plate is no longer solid advice. Stop eating when you are full and take leftovers home and eat them the next day as another meal. Your body and wallet will thank you.

Bend and stretch! Before you work out, always stretch. It helps to limit injury and contributes to physical fitness. This is one vital component that many people, even hardcore gym rats, forget. 

Quit Smoking. Smoking restricts blood flow to the entire body. Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals none of which are good for your health. The sad fact is that smokers are actively slowing the body’s ability to heal. This includes your spine.

Sleep 7 to 9 hours per night and try and go to bed at the same time every night.

Pain while sleeping is not normal and needs to be corrected.

  • Side sleepers – reduce pressure on the spine by putting a pillow between your knees.
  • Back sleeping placed almost 50 pounds of additional pressure on the spine that can be reduced by 50% if a supportive pillow is placed under the knees.

Your Stance

Never lock your knees while standing. It places pressure on your lower back. Always keep knees slightly bent.

Pushing. Pick pushing over pulling. Use your leg muscles to avoid back strain.

Sitting (especially extended periods of time). Avoid slouching at all costs. Back straight, spine straight. Do not round your shoulders. Keep your knees slightly higher than hips. Head up and looking straight forward.

The Lift. Never lift with your back. Always engage the legs. Avoid twisting.


Carrying. Once you are at a carry, keep the object close to the body and use both hands to help distribute the weight.

Reaching and Bending. Bend your knees rather than at the waist. If something is above shoulder height, get a stool. Straining to reach high can cause neck, shoulder, and mid-back injury.

Adding these simple physical motion strategies can increase your odds of living a pain-free, healthy life!

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. in Fort Myers, Florida. 239-332-2555.

08.07.17
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Vitamins, Supplements that are Good for Your Heart

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A healthy diet could aide in saving your life. By eating balanced, nutritious meals, you are fueling the body with what it needs to keep your cholesterol and sugar levels in check, while fighting off harmful diseases. Instead of thinking about what to take out of your diet, focus your attention on what foods you should be adding in to your daily eating habits. Lean meats, fruits, vegetables, “good” fats, and whole grains are essential to your health, especially heart health.

However, no one has the perfect diet. Life gets in the way sometimes, and you could have a few days in the week in which you didn’t get in enough vitamins. Whether you were too busy or just not in the mood for a salad, your diet can sometimes fall short. That’s OK. If your consistently eating healthy over time, your body will reap the benefits. Since we cannot have the perfect diet, it can be good for you to supplement your diet with vitamins, but talk to your doctor about what you should or can take daily, especially if you think you may have a vitamin deficiency.

For this article, I wanted to share with you some vitamins and supplements that you can take to help with your cardiovascular health. Whether you currently have a heart condition or not, it’s always a good idea to try and keep your heart at its healthiest, since heart disease is the #1 killer in America. The following list are supplements and vitamins that can help keep heart conditions at bay, or keep your heart from further deterioration.

Magnesium – Magnesium helps sodium move throughout the cells in the body, supports relaxation and dilation of vascular arterial walls and stabilizes heart rhythm.

Omega-3 – Omega-3 helps the body balance cholesterol and triglycerides, which is great for people who are at risk for heart disease. Omega-3 is also known to lower blood pressure and slows down the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that fights off free radicals, and manages blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps with keep the arteries healthy and muscle cells optimally utilizing energy.

L-carnitine – L-carnitine helps transport fat into the mitochondria to be used and burned as fuel by cells.

Arginine – Arginine is an amino acid that helps improve vascular function.

Phospholipids– are necessary to “prime” the HDL particle thus allowing it to sop up cholesterol.

If you’re looking for help with your diet or have concerns about your heart health, Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness of Fort Myers offers comprehensive dietary consults to his patients. Dr. Kordonowy also offers vitamins and supplements for you to purchase online here.   Dr. Kordonowy offers direct patient care membership and concierge services including the unique Inpatient Advocate Service™. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kordonowy, call 239-362-3005, ext. 200 or click here.

03.27.17
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Ways to Help Treats Upper Respiratory Illness Symptoms

Spring has sprung but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods just yet when it comes to cold and flu season. Upper respiratory illnesses (URI) are common in the early spring, just like the fall and winter seasons. The upper respiratory system includes the mouth, nose, sinuses, larynx, throat, and trachea. Unfortunately, many of the these URIs are viral and cannot be treated by antibiotics. These infections are not usually treated with antibiotics unless there is proof of a bacterial infection.

The common cold is a URI and a viral illness. Symptoms can include: a stuffy nose, muscle aches, sneezing, a sore throat, post-nasal drip, cough, and a mild fever (under 101.5). A cold can last anywhere from 3 to 14 days. If you’re illness is lasting at least 10 days with no improvement, you should schedule an appointment for an evaluation with the doctor.  Also, if you are experiencing a high fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, confusion, chest pain, teeth-chattering chills, or rib pain, you should make an appointment to see the doctor as soon as possible. At my office, our nursing staff can triage patients quickly with the above-mentioned issues. We can test for influenza (the flu) and low oxygen levels to check for more serious illnesses beyond a cold or allergy. We can also test for strep throat in our office quickly through a swab test.

Since viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics, there are many remedies a person can do to lessen the symptoms and duration of his or her URI. Below, I’ve shared a few things that can be used when suffering from a URI.

  1. Vitamin C – When taken at a high dosage (1000mg 3 times a day), vitamin C has been known to shorten the duration of a cold.
  2. Zinc gluconate (Coldeez brand) – Take 5 to 6 lozenges per day every two hours. The high level of zinc gluconate (13.3 mg) improves symptoms and shortens duration of illness.
  3. Antihistamines (Zyrtec, Claritin, Alavert, Loratidine, Tavist,) can help with coughs and drying secretions.
  4. Vicks menthol rub can help breathing and provide relieve at night when applied to the chest, throat, and upper lip.
  5. Nasal saline can help flush out nostrils.
  6. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammation medication can reduce a fever, headaches, and muscle aches. If you are on blood thinners or anti-platelet therapy, use acetaminophen instead of Iburprofen or asprin. If you are allergic to NSAIDS, avoid Ibuprofen, Aleve, or aspirin.

Below,  I’ve shared are a few links to medicinal products I offer and approve  on my website to help ease URI symptoms.

Sinus Relief Products

Cold and Cough Products

Pain Relievers

Allergy Medication

If you’re experience a long-lasting cold, flu-like or strep throat symptoms, give me, Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipids & Wellness of Fort Myers, and my team a call today at 239-362-3005, ext. 200 or click here to contact us to schedule an appointment today.

01.12.17
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Vitamin C Healthy Benefits

It’s cold and flu season now. Flu shots have been returning at local clinics and pharmacies. For preventative home care, many people turn to vitamin C to ward off colds and flus; this vitamin helps the immune system function at an optimum level. However, the benefits of vitamin C go beyond just helping fight off a cold. The vitamin is great to consume to maintain overall health in the body, because cells need vitamin C to work properly. Our bodies do not naturally produce the vitamin, so it’s important for us to consume this vitamin through our diet.

These are all benefits this vitamin provides for the body:

  • According to the Journal of American College of Nutrition, proper levels of Vitamin C helps the body burn more fat during exercise with up to a 30% difference between optimal and insufficient levels.
  • Vitamin C helps improve blood cell function and vascular relaxation, which can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and lower blood pressure.
  • Vitamin C fights off cell-damaging free radicals in the body, which can help your body reduce inflammation.
  • This vitamin may enhance chemotherapy’s effect on cancer cells, and improves the quality of life in cancer patients.
  • This can help with cataracts, because it helps increase the blood supply to the ocular areas.
  • This vitamin has been known to help repair wounds in the body, because it helps the growth of connective tissues that speed up the healing process.
  • Low levels of this vitamin and diabetes are related; this vitamin helps the process of insulin and glucose in the body.
  • A disease associated with severe vitamin C deficiency is known as scurvy.

If you’re looking to improve your overall nutrition, besides just adding vitamin C, it’s best to talk to a doctor. Dr. Kordonowy offers the unique Biophotonic scanner to assess your body stores of certain antioxidants.  Dr. Kordonowy of Internal Medicine, Lipid & Wellness of Fort Myers provides dietary education services and counseling, as well. To book an appointment, click here or call 239-362-3005, ext. 200.