Tag Archives: hand pain

08.02.19
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Lower Back Pain Keeping You Awake? – Try These Simple Tips

ower-back-pain-dr-kaster-fort-myers-800x527

ower-back-pain-dr-kaster-fort-myers-800x527No one enjoys tossing, turning, getting up to take anti-inflammatories, hot baths, ice packs, or whatever may possibly sooth you enough to get to sleep. It makes for a long rough night.

Once you finally get to sleep if you fall asleep in a “bad” sleeping position it can actually exacerbate the condition even further. You make wake up feeling even worse than when you went to bed. It is all incredibly frustrating and exhausting. This happens because some positions put more pressure on the hips, back, and neck unnecessarily.

It is vital to maintain the natural curve of the spine while lying in bed. Without it, you do not have proper alignment or support.  Make sure your head, shoulders, and hips are aligned.  This way your back is properly supported. Sleeping on your back is the best possible position.

Switching up the position you may have slept in for years isn’t an easy task but it can be done. Don’t give up if you wake up in the old position. Keep trying. You will get there.

Best positions for back pain

#1 On your back with a pillow under your knees.

This position helps distribute your weight evenly. A small pillow under the neck supports the curve of the spine.

#2 If you are a side sleeper put a thin pillow between your knees.

This raises the thigh restoring the natural alignment of the spine. Make sure you have a pillow under your head as well. If you are a constant flipper, add another pillow in a hug position. This will keep you in place and making rolling over more difficult.

#3 The  fetal position 

This position may help bring relief during the night for those with herniated discs. Lying on your side with your knees tucked up to the chest reduces the bend of the spine and also helps loosen up joints.

Also, use a pillow under your neck as well.

#4 Facedown sleepers – If you must sleep on your stomach, do it with a pillow under your stomach area. This will help reduce pressure.

This is only helpful for those with a herniated disc or spinal disc degeneration. Use a flat pillow for your head or sleep without one.

#5 Sleep reclined (on your back)

This can help with lower back pain especially if you have spondylolisthesis. This will work in either an adjustable bed or a recliner chair. It may take a few nights to adjust. If you tend to roll over do not use this method as you may hurt your hips.

#6 See your Chiropractor Regularly.
Regular adjustments help your body stay in alignment allowing you the most restful painless sleep possible.

Ready for an adjustment? 

Chiropractor | Nutritionist in Ft Myers, FL

Fort Myers Chiropractor, Dr. Jason B. KasterChiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Add to that, nutritional recommendations that can help your body heal itself. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?

Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor in Fort Myers can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.

      SCHEDULE NOW!
239-332-2555
07.01.19
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Chiropractic May Help With Sleep Issues

sleep-dr.-jason-kaster-fort-myers

sleep-dr.-jason-kaster-fort-myersMillions of Americans have sleep issues. Either they can’t fall asleep at all or they wake up tossing and turning. Either way, they aren’t getting the rest they need.

We have an idea for you if this is your situation…

Schedule an appointment with your chiropractor. It doesn’t just help soothe an aching back or a sore neck, it can actually help boost your sleep quality.

Medical Studies have indicated that as many as 33% of those who receive adjustments regularly get a better night’s sleep nightly on average. Best yet, those results are immediate.

Is Chiropractic Right For Your Sleep Dilemma?

If your sleep is being disrupted by any type of physical discomfort, the answer is yes. Chiropractic treatments can help to lessen or get rid of pain and discomfort while improving blood flow and promoting relaxation.

Certain types of anxiety can also be helped through chiropractic and nutrition supplementation.

Your chiropractor may be able to offer suggestions for getting better sleep including weaning yourself of stomach sleeping, getting a more supportive mattress, using a specially designed pillow, and helping you decide on the best sleep position for you. Nutrition may also play a part when your body is properly fueled and not deficient in any vitamins or minerals it simply works better.

This advice goes for both adults and children. 40% of infants are reported to experience deeper calmer longer sleep patterns after just one session with a chiropractor. When your baby sleeps better – you can catch some Z’s as well.

Ready to Make the Adjustment?

Chiropractic visits are covered by many health insurance plans, so call and find out. The office of Dr. Kaster also takes into consideration those who are uninsured or underinsured by offering very reasonable cash discount prices as well.

If you aren’t sleeping all night and waking up feeling refreshed you are selling yourself short. Over time it will wear you out and potentially cause more health issues. Come in today and get the sleep you so dearly need.

Visit www.drkasters.com to learn more!

06.02.19
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Transdermal Human Growth Hormone

somaderm

somadermThe office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C., has found a way to revitalize your wellbeing and bring back the feelings of health you had in your youth. 

This may sound like doing the impossible but the fact is – it can be done.

On average, around the age of 30, our biology starts to slow. This can mean weight gain, foggier thinking, lines beginning to show on our faces, all the signs of age. We live in a youth-obsessed society where many of us will do literally anything to fight the signs of aging. Much of what is on the market and available can be a hindrance to our health if not downright dangerous.

Finally, an all natural answer

Human Growth Hormone also is known as simply HGH. HGH is a widely studied and scientifically documented hormone which drops in natural regulation as we get older. HGH, produced by the pituitary gland is what brings about growth in children throughout the natural life cycle. It helps control body composition, muscle growth, bone growth, fat and sugar metabolism, heart function, and all the fluids in the body. It essentially is a hormone that keeps you young and active.

Athletes have been turning to HGH for years to enhance performance and recovery as well as stimulate new muscle growth. The problem is that many products have been found to have side effects and even be harmful in its synthetic form.

You may even have seen supplement pills that promise to kick your body into gear again and trick it into producing HGH naturally. These claims are widely unfounded in science.

While we have believed in the power of HGH up until now we have never suggested it to our patients, let alone considered selling it in our office. Finally, an all natural homeopathic product has hit the mainstream market. SOMADERM™ Gel by New U Life works on a cellular level. It offers a cutting edge scientific breakthrough using the power of HGH.

The gel is applied topically and transported transdermally to the blood pathways in the body. Transdermal application is far more absorbable and effective than pills which lose potency during digestion.

You no longer have to accept the symptoms that come with age. With SOMADERM™ Gel, you can regain your youth. SOMADERM™ Gel – the ageless standard.

Interested? Come in for a consultation and talk with Dr. Kaster, D.C. to learn more!

05.01.19
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Are You A Mosquito Magnet? How to put an end to it!

mosquitos

mosquitosWhile summer is many people’s favorite season, our time spent at the beach, the pool, at events outdoors and barbecues can all be hindered by our friend the mosquito. No one likes to be bit over and over again. It can really bug you.

While bug spray may keep the bugs off, they are not all that healthy for you. Have you ever noticed that you seem to have that one friend in every group who just simply doesn’t get bit? Meanwhile, you are scratching yourself silly?

It makes you question “What am I doing wrong? Or am I really ‘just that tasty’”? It’s frustrating!

Let’s take a look at what makes someone a mosquito magnet.

What Do Mosquitos Like in a Human?

First:  A factor that you can not control is the core basic fact that blood type O makes you the tastiest snack around. Research has found that type O blood is 2x as desirable as any other blood type. On the flip side, if you happen to be type A? You are likely safe.

Second: Your blood now has alcohol in it. Alcohol boost metabolism. When your metabolism is boosted you output more CO2. They are most attracted to beer drinkers.

Third: You are athletic. Lactic acid is high on the chart for mosquitos. Avoid going outside within an hour of working out hard.

Fourth: Pregnancy. Again, CO2 is the factor here. Pregnant women emit more CO2 than most.

Fifth: Dark or Bright Clothing. If you are in high contrast to your background environment, they see you. I know it sounds silly, but if you wear light colors that blend in with the sky, they miss you.

What if you fall into several of those categories, making you prime for mosquito attacks?

Repel them Anyway!

What they hate

Eat garlic, onions, or chili peppers – they hate it!

Wear light thick material for clothing. Bites can only pierce so deeply and as we mentioned above, the light fabric is like camouflage to them.

Shower before going out. Mosquitos love the smell of sweat. They don’t love clean skin nearly as much.

Use bug spray and avoid thickly populated mosquito hangouts such as water’s edge areas and wooded spaces.

Knowing what mosquitos are looking for is key to helping avoid the little buggers.
We hope this makes your summer more pleasant.

More interesting health information can be found at www.drkasters.com

04.04.19
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Update! Sleeping with the TV on Can Disturb Circadian Rythems and Lead to Health Issues

sleep-with-tv-on

sleep-with-tv-onMany people leave the television on for noise as they go to sleep, but the question becomes, is this bad for our health?

It’s a common practice and most don’t ever think twice about it. The problem is when your tv is left on, even quietly, in a room where you are trying to sleep it interrupts your ability to get to the level of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This is the deep sleep where your brain and body are able to regenerate and heal.

The exposure to the blue high-frequency Calvin scale light readings that the RGB output of a tv screen produce is a nonnatural daylight effect which can mess with your circadian rhythms and natural ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. One recent study found that exposure to nonnatural light cycles may have other health consequences besides insomnia including increased risk for depression and anxiety.

The other issue with the tv playing while you are sleeping is that during sleep even though your mind is “turned off” and you are sleeping, your subconscious still hears and takes in everything. They don’t call TV “Programming” for nothing. Your subconscious is literally being programmed. While you may be perfectly able to monitor what you watch while awake, show after the show comes on without you being able to change the channel while you are snoozing. This leaves a wide window open for shows containing violence, anger, sadness, remorse, anxiety, loud startling noises that could actually wake you anyway. These emotions can carry over into your own life and feel like they belong to you when in reality its nothing more than “programming”.

Many that sleep with the TV on becoming dependent on it to go to sleep creating bad sleep habits. Try other bedtime behaviors such as meditation, reading, journaling, or simply clearing your mind. Try a sleep mask to block out all light, and earplugs to get rid of the sound. Sensory deprivation is great for sleep.

It may take some time but you might be happily surprised once you make the adjustment at how much more rested you feel when you wake up and just how easily you are able to drift off once you get used to it.

If you have problems relaxing enough to go to sleep try natural sleep aids such as lavender, valerian, vervain, or melatonin. All are sold over the counter at any health food store and many grocery stores as well.

www.drkasters.com can help you sleep naturally with regular chiropractic adjustments, dietary changes, and supplementation. Give them a call today to schedule 239-332-2555.

04.01.19
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Can Running Age Your Body?

running

runningThe simple answer is YES.

While walking is great for your health by boosting cardiovascular health, toning and strengthening muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bone health, jogging, has more drawbacks than benefits when it comes to aging.

The more strenuously you work your body, the greater the calorie burn. The more calories burnt, the more weight potentially lost. The issue is that there is a lot more to the equation than just calories.

In your youth, your body is strong, your heart is healthy, and exercise by running or jogging, bringing your heart rate up to near its maximum capacity for a time isn’t an issue. As we age that maximum capacity begins to drop. When you go too hard and your heart pumps at too high of a heart rate you aren’t just burning unwanted fat – you are also causing your body to go after the muscle. This is why you see so many runners who are not fat by any means, but their body composition is often that of a “thin fat” person. Meaning they are lean but not solid.

To garner the most benefit a quick walk is far better for you overall keeping your heart rate in the fat burning range of 132-142 vs the higher rates jogging and running bring on.

Take a moment to really look around and notice the people at your gym – they work out for months and even years and you won’t notice much difference in the way that they look, despite a lot of effort. Long sessions of cardiovascular exercise can actually accelerate the aging process. Why? Because it increases free radicals. These free radicals are scavengers that prey on your body’s tissue and nutrients. Unless you are training for a marathon, most gym goers are overdoing it on the cardio, especially if running or jogging. It is hard on your joints from your ankles, knees, hips, all the way up to jarring your shoulders and neck repeatedly.

The other issue is with dehydration. Water helps you burn fat as well as suppress hunger. Drinking a gallon of water a day can take years off your look, help you drop extra fat, save your liver and kidneys from overworking chronically, allowing you to have more energy. Your liver is your number one fat burning organ.  If it is chronically overworked with toxins, it cannot do its job and that extra fat will stick.

HIIT cardio is the answer. High-Intensity Interval Training. This involves no running. HIIT has been shown to burn more fat, keep your heart healthy, and save your joints. HIIT essentially goes back and forth between high and low heart rate. This gives the biggest fat burn.

If you intend to do weight training that day do the weight training first rather than the HIIT cardio. You will have more energy and feel less worn out at the end.

HIIT training Directions – it can be done outside with no equipment, on a treadmill, an elliptical, a bike, a lateral machine, or even a rowing machine. Start out with 30-second intervals. Start slow and warm up. Then begin to alternate between 30 seconds all out at a good pace nice and fast (you can even crank up the grade or level) and then bring it back down to almost nothing allowing your heart to relax and slow back down. Repeat over and over again for 10-15 minutes.

For more info please visit www.drkasters.com 

03.06.19
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Chiropractic – A Great Choice for Back Pain

back-pain-fort-myers-dr-kaster

back-pain-fort-myers-dr-kasterBack pain makes life unbearable. It affects the very core of your body making each movement strained.

It makes daily life much more difficult and wears you out in a hurry.

Many patients seek help initially from their regular General Practice Medical Doctor. The most common treatments applied are medications such as pain killers and muscle relaxers combined with at home recommendations for exercise and occasionally a directive to do physical therapy.

While medications may offer some relief, they do not fix the underlying problem and they do carry the risk of abuse and addiction as well as a wide variety of side effects.

The better more permanent solution is found in Chiropractic care. Millions use chiropractic to stay free of pain and in good shape throughout life. It is also a great choice to help alleviate or prevent back issues.

How Chiropractic Can Help Ease Back Pain

  • The AMA agrees that chiropractic care is effective in handling acute pain.
  • Chiropractic patients are less likely to use or even abuse medications helping to fight the war of opioid addictions we have in the USA today.
  • Chiropractic can help prevent future back pain. It returns balance to the body rather than just treating symptoms.
  • Chiropractic is less expensive than traditional medical care and is often covered by insurance.
  • Adjustments can help you to avoid needing back surgery. Chiropractic should be the first line of treatment advancing only to surgical methods when all else fails.
  • Chiropractic is a full body approach. The focus is on whole body wellness. This leads to better health overall.
  • Chiropractors will often work hand in hand with massage therapists who, once you are aligned again, can help get your muscles, tendons, and ligaments to loosen up and release pain as well.

Almost 80% of adults deal with back pain in some form during their lifetime. This common health care issue produces roughly $240 billion dollars a year for doctors and medications.

You do not have to suffer from back pain. See your chiropractor today. If you are in the Southwest Florida area come visit our office. 239-332-2555. www.drkasters.com.

03.01.19
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The Opioid Epidemic and How to Heal Naturally with Chiropractic Instead

opioid

opioidLiving in pain can make life unbearable.

It is no shock that so many patients become addicted to prescribed opioid pain killers. Taking pain killers initiates a vicious cycle where the pain is gone and you feel ok too as soon as it wears off you are right back to square one again and relying on pills to be able to navigate life.

Florida has a huge prescription drugs problem. By the CDC’s latest numbers as many as 1 in 4 patients who are prescribed opioids for long term care will have to deal with addiction. Thousands are being treated yearly in Florida’s emergency rooms for abusing their prescriptions.

Just in the past 20 years, deaths involving prescription opioid medications have quadrupled.

It isn’t just an addiction that needs to be focused on. There is the fact that these drugs do nothing to heal you. Numbing a pain may convince the patient that they are healing or that the problem is less severe in nature than it really is.

Chiropractic and other non-drug approaches to pain management can be the first line against pain and addiction caused by the saturation of the body by prescription opioid pain medications. Growing research validates the effectiveness of chiropractic, leading many respected health care organizations to recommend chiropractic for pain relief.

The American College of Physicians updated the guidelines for the treatment of acute and chronic low back pain to recommend chiropractic first before resorting to drug therapies.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) encourages patients to utilize non-drug related therapies first before resorting to the use of prescription drugs to help alleviate pain.

Even the CDC Center for Disease Control has announced guidelines for prescribing opioids that also promote non-drug alternatives for the treatment of chronic pain.

You do not have to live in pain or constantly rely on prescription medication to try to normalize again. We invite you to come to see us at the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. right here in Fort Myers, Florida. Let us get you back on track to health and eliminate pain, naturally – by allowing your body a chance to really heal.

Call the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. in Fort Myers, Fl. 239-332-2555 or visit him online at www.drkasters.com to learn more.

01.01.19
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Texting May Cause You Health Issues Down The Road

texting fort myers dr kaster

texting fort myers dr kasterTexting has made communication an addiction.

 

Many of us are constantly online in one form or another, via cell phone, tablet, iPad, Kindle, laptop or even a desktop computer.  We are virtually always reachable. Gone are the days of a phone ringing busy or missing someone because they aren’t home.

Texting may make life seem faster and more connected, but it is also leading to health issues for kids and adults. This includes neck pain, finger pain, hand pain, and even back pain.

The older generation did not grow up with cell phones, tablets, or for many even computers. That meant that we spent more time outdoors playing and getting exercise. Our bodies had the proper time to develop good posture without looking down all the time with the muscles in our hands constantly in motion.

It may seem like advancement, but children today do not have that luxury of freedom. They will never know the feeling of biking across town without their parents being able to call or track them. They aren’t learning trust or responsibility and they are poising themselves in structurally odd positions for hours on end. This has a major effect on the way the body forms.

Over  200 billion text messages are sent per month in the USA alone. The average time on a smartphone per day is 80 minutes. This time only includes surfing the web and messaging it does not consider in phone calls.

75% of teenagers now have their own smartphone, sending and responding to well over 100 texts per day. Back pain can begin from bad form when seated as well as the weight of loading backpacks with multiple devices on top of books. Laptops, iPads, cell phones, and gaming devices are all common.

If you are a heavy user of technology – take a break!

  • Raise your screen to eye level rather than looking down and hunching
  • Stretch your hands and fingers periodically and take breaks
  • If you have a long email to write do it on a desktop rather than on your phone
  • Even if you work on a desk stop stand up hourly and stretch and walk around
  • Lighten your load as much as possible leaving non-needed gadgets at home for the day

Regular chiropractic adjustments can help with text related aches and pains.

Call the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. if you are in the Southwest Florida area.

Nutritionist | Chiropractor in Ft Myers, FL

Fort Myers Chiropractor, Dr. Jason B. KasterChiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Add to that, nutritional recommendations that can help your body heal itself. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?