Can’t Sleep Due to Twitching Legs?

RLS

RLSYou are just about asleep and – zap. You feel an electrical impulse shoot through your leg causing it to jerk you awake.

If you are living with Restless Leg Syndrome you know first hand that trying to get to sleep at night is difficult.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder in which the person has a consistent uncontrollable urge in which their limbs twitch.

RLS most strongly affects people during times of inactivity and can make it extremely difficult for a person to sleep, rest or relax. While RLS can appear in a person at any age, it is considered both a progressive disease and a spectrum disease. RLS symptoms can either become worse over time or better, depending on the patient, and the severity of symptoms also varies strongly from patient to patient. RLS can also be classified as either a primary condition – one that appears independent of other conditions – or a secondary condition – one that appears as a result of another condition or disorder that is already present.

Iron deficiency or vein issue?

Unfortunately, RLS itself cannot be prevented except by attempting to prevent its underlying causes. In terms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency, the best things that a person can do to prevent such disorders is to remain active, exercise frequently, maintain a healthy diet and weight, not smoke cigarettes, and to elevate the legs when sitting or laying down. While these actions cannot prevent all the underlying causes of RLS, they can at least help to prevent those instances where RLS is caused by venous insufficiency.

While the most common cause of RLS remains an iron deficiency many cases occur as a result of varicose veins or venous reflux. Varicose veins are not only physically unattractive, but they can also cause severe discomfort and pain in the afflicted area, a discomfort that, like in RLS, can only be alleviated by activity and movement. Fortunately, as more is becoming known about the correlation between RLS and vein disorders, many patients are finding relief for their RLS symptoms through treatments of their veins.

One such treatment for varicose veins is endovenous ablation therapy, a procedure that uses heat in either lasers or radio frequencies to seal off and close affected veins. Many patients report immediate relief in their symptoms, and, because the procedure is minimally invasive and relatively painless, most patients are able to resume their normal activities almost immediately and experience no interruption in their work or home life as a result.

While there is no cure for RLS, no one should have to suffer through daily and nightly discomfort, and treatments are available through most insurance policies. Dr. Magnant of Vein Specialists is always available for a consultation and diagnosis and is here to help whether your RLS is simply a minor annoyance or a major disruption in your quality of life. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome, seeing a physician that specializes in vein disorders could be the most important step you take towards alleviating your symptoms.

If you are living with RLS visit www.eveinscreening.com and start today with a FREE online screening and talk with a professional Vein Specialist.

Could The Answer to Your Illness Lie In Your Feelings?

emotions

emotionsYour Emotions May Be Making You Sick

Do you deal with your feelings and let them out to be known or do you stifle them, and try and sweep them under the rug, just to move on with things?

If you don’t allow yourself to feel whatever you feel, process it, and then let it go you are doing yourself a great disservice. Pushing “bad” feelings down doesn’t make them go away. It’s like tossing unwanted objects into a closet. Yes, it may get them out of the way, out of sight and work for a while, but eventually, that closet gets full – too full. It may not close and when you open it an avalanche of crap may tumble out, burying you.

Emotional health has a direct effect on your physical health, over time. Emotions tend to work like an echo. Your sickness of today may just be your build up of non dealt with feelings of yesterday. And by yesterday, I do not mean that literally, it can be building up for years and in turn, begins to eat away at the self.

We are such a busy society. We focus on work, kids, school, jobs, life in general, keeping our family happy, and keeping it all together. We juggle, we schedule, we have trouble sleeping and feel rushed quite a bit of the time. We forget the most important person in our life many times. Ourselves.

Being selfish has gotten such a bad connotation. It has taken on the meaning of not caring about anyone but yourself and is therefore marked into the checkbox of being a bad person. The truth is, you need to not be selfless all the time. YOU are important. If you don’t take care of yourself no one else is going to do it. Eventually, lack of self-care or “selfishness” often leads to breakdown – either emotionally or physically due to stress.

Take care of yourself. Take the time to check in with yourself and your body and how you are feeling. When someone who actually does care about you asks “how are you?” Don’t just get stuck on auto-respond of “fine”. If you aren’t fine. Say so. Let it out, talk about it. So many of us are like teakettles ready to explode. Venting lets out that steam and you may be surprised to find out that people really do actually care and are able to empathize.

Along with the emotional side of health is the physical – it is a balance. Remaining in proper alignment by way of regularly scheduled chiropractic and massage appointments can go a long way in not only restoring but in maintaining your health.

 

Chiropractor & Nutritionist in Fort 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. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent them before they start?

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

Oregano – Nature’s Super Healer

oregano

oreganoOregano is a member of the mint family. It has often been nicknamed nature’s most potent antiseptic and described as one of the strongest known anti-inflammatory substances. Oregano oil has powerful anti-viral properties. In terms of reversing pain and inflammation; it has nearly the same power of morphine. Yet it remains relatively unknown. 

Oregano oil has been certified by the FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe); however, it is a very “hot” oil, so dilution is a carrier oil is recommended, especially for ingestion. You can purchase Oregano Oil capsules over the counter at any grocery or drugstore.

Numerous studies have shown it to be highly destructive to a multitude of viruses including Staph, E-Coli, Listeria and even MRSA. It has been demonstrated to be 99% effective at reducing airborne bacteria as well and is an excellent lymphatic stimulator even fighting off fungal infections. A recent medical journal study compared the anti-candida effect of oregano oil to that caprylic acid.  The results indicated that oregano oil is over 100 times more potent than caprylic acid against candida.

Oregano is a must have for every first aid kit and not a bad idea to keep in your medicine cabinet either.

What is oregano good for?

-Fungus and athlete’s foot infections (pop open a soft-gel and apply 2x daily)

-Respiratory ailments

-Colds

-Flu

-A sore throat

-Asthma

-Bronchitis. 

-Congestion, loosen phlegm and quiet coughs.  Either applying it topically (diluted, unless applied to the bottom of the feet) or diffused, it offers you excellent benefits.

-Intestinal infection

-Digestive issues

Diffused into the air for its antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, to clear the air of pathogens (for this method oregano oil must be pure – not mixed with a carrier oil)

How to use oregano medicinally:

As with any antibiotic if you are choosing to use a natural antibiotic for an infection make sure that you do a full course. In other words… don’t just use it until you feel better. Keep going for a minimum of 5-10 days. As with all antibiotics, if you quit taking them just when you begin to feel better, the bacteria that remain may actually rally and come back stronger giving you less of a chance to be able to fight them off should you choose to start again.

Interested in homeopathy, chiropractic, natural wellness, nutrition and overall health? Contact the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. of Fort Myers, Florida. 239-332-2555.

How to Support Blood Pressure, Naturally

high blood pressure fort myers

high blood pressure fort myersIt is scary to think that in this day and age one-third of all adults live with higher than desired blood pressure.  Life has become a go go go society. it’s a high-pressure world and our health is reflecting that. 

It can be tempting to simply ignore high blood pressure readings, but it isn’t in the overall best interest of your health. It can result over time in damage to the arteries, heart failure, ruptured blood vessels, kidney issues, vision problems, drop in cognitive function, metabolic syndrome and even life-threatening aneurysm.

The medical community seeks out pharmaceutical remedies to treat the symptom while those of us in the natural health world would rather find options that help to heal and treat the root cause.

Before reaching for the phone to get a prescription for high blood pressure medication, consider some of the more natural approaches which have been shown to work on many who experience higher than desired blood pressure readings.

Take a look at possible reasons for hypertension

Emotional taxation

Alcohol

Caffeine (soda, coffee, teas)

Smoking 

Being overweight or obese 

Lack of activity

Birth control pills are taken for lengthy amounts of time

Excess table salt

Heavy metal toxicity

What you can do 

Boost your diet – the foods you eat energize and run your body. Adding in items like olives and flax seeds, lots of fruits and vegetables, fish high in omega-3 and healthy fats like coconut and olive oils. Reduce grains.

Take Magnesium – helps to relax blood vessels. It can immediately impact blood pressure. 500 mg a day is a great starting place for most people.

Take Potassium – coconut water, bananas, melons, and avocados are just a few of the potassium-packed foods that can help with hypertension.

Take CoQ10 – This antioxidant helps to support heart health. 200-300mg a day is great for blood pressure support.

Take Fish Oil – 1,000-2,000mg daily. Inflammation of the arteries is a prime cause of high blood pressure. Fish oil is high in EPA, DHA, and Omega’s. It helps control and reduce the inflammatory response and can, in turn, help to reduce how hard your heart is having to work.

Get Chiropractic Adjustments & Massage – When your body is in proper alignment your nervous system works at top speed. This gives your body the best chance at regulating itself, which after all is the ultimate goal in health. Massage is not only relaxing, which can help bring down hypertension, it is therapeutic and helps the body release toxins and stress as well as tension.

Before reaching for that medicine bottle – consider some of these tips. They may just change your life.

If you are in the SW Florida area visit www.drkasters.com Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. of the office of Dr. Jason Kaster. or call 239-332-2555 and make an appointment today. 

Essential Oil Diffusers for Health

diffuser

diffuserWhat Is an Essential oil Diffuser?

An essential oil diffuser is a container that holds a mixture of water and essential oil.  When turned on the diffusion lamp creates a vapor out of the water and oil which mists itself into the air diffusing the oil particles so that the fragrance fills the air and in turn your lungs.

Why Essential Oils?

Essential oils can be essential in healing the body. Every oil has its own set of properties –antitumorigenic, antibacterial, antiviral, and much more. Oils can be breathed in, applied topically, or taken internally (please check each company and each oil, not every oil can be ingested due to impurities in processing and or the plant source itself).

These amazing oils have been shown to help with everything from the common cold to asthma, headache relief, pain relief, skin issues, cancer, blood disorders, and much much more. By diffusing them into the air everyone in the area derives the benefits. Essential oils can also benefit your pets. 

Used as aromatherapy they can lift and brighten your mood and make you feel better overall. So toss away the chemical laden Renuzit and Febreeze sprays and make way for a cleaner more natural way to cleanse the air in your home while healing your body.

On a molecular level, essential oils are small enough that they can get inside human cells and detoxify. Certain oils, such as Frankincense are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier (the goal of many medications) and help heal even traumatic brain injuries. Frankincense has even shown promise in cancer patients as well as those who are in comas.

If you are looking for more out of the box alternative health advice, follow Dr. Jason Kaster on FB or TWITTER or visit his site at www.drkasters.com.

Need an New Year’s Detox? We’ve Got One For You!

cleanse

cleanseThe holidays can often leave us feeling less than in stellar shape. Bloated, sluggish, tired and overweight. It’s now 2018 and time to get back into the swing of things post-holiday.

The Eart Diet released a simple cleanse that can be done in your own home with no special pills or supplements to buy.  It can be found by clicking here.

This is a super simple juice cleanse that only takes 3 days, though you can do it for longer if you wish for even better results.

While many people will not have any detoxification symptoms, others do. It depends on your level of toxicity. It is important to take on a cleanse when you have time to rest a little and be good to yourself.

During a cleanse – you may experience:

Mood swings

Tiredness

watery eyes

Sleepiness

Stuffy nose

You may re-experience old symptoms of previous illnesses. 

That is what symptoms really are in a detox – they are a healing crisis. A brief showing of old releasing toxins which you may have experienced before. You can distinguish the difference between a detox symptom and actually being sick in that a healing crisis you may feel for an hour or so and then it fades. Sickness just sticks with you for days.

For more great health advice check out Dr. Kaster’s blog www.drkasters.com.

GET THE CLEANSE!

 

Naturally Boost Your Immunity

immune system

immune systemBecause of the media and social conditioning, many of us have come to consider yearly colds and flu’s just par for the course and even expected. The truth is that there is nothing normal about being sick all of the time. Health is our natural state.

If you or your kids are constantly catching colds, it means your immunity is lower than it should be and ideally could be.

One route many never consider or even know about is Chiropractic.

Did you know that regular chiropractic visits help to keep your immune system going strong throughout the year?

The nervous system works in conjunction with your immune system. Spinal misalignments cause neural dysfunctions. This is stressful on the body. Stress causes immunity breakdown over time. Chiropractic helps to correct the subluxations and get the nerves functioning and communicating properly to your cells and organs once again.

Adjustments boost your immune system

Here are some interesting facts coming out from the latest scientific studies on the subject

In one study, blood was taken from 15 patients before an adjustment. Another blood draw was done on the same subjects’ post adjustment. What was found was that the immune response was significantly higher after they had been adjusted. [1]

It has been noted that those coming in with a cold or flu recovered faster than those who do not receive chiropractic adjustments. [2]

Children under chiropractic care required less use of antibiotics and other medications. [3]

Chiropractic has even been shown to help those living with HIV. The central benefits chiropractic offered were a reduction of stress and removal of nervous system interference as well as education on living an immunopositive lifestyle.[4]

Your immune system plays a major role in your health and overall well-being. It can affect every cell in your body, every system and every organ. Along with eating well, getting fresh air and sunshine daily, make sure you don’t limit Chiropractic in your mind to just a cure for aches and pains. If you do not feel well or have a diagnosis of any kind go visit your chiropractor and see if they may be able to help.

Chiropractor in Ft Myers, FL, and Naples, 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. 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 and Naples, can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.

Scoliosis – Don’t Just Resign Yourself to a Life in Pain

scoliosis

Scoliosis is a spinal curvature. This additional curvature not usually present in a spine can begin to compress nerve roots. This compression leads to inflammation and pain. Impaired organ function may occur over time if not treated properly.

ChiroNexus did a study recently which revealed that chiropractic adjustments and regular care, when combined with exercise, can significantly help to decrease pain levels linked to scoliosis enabling a wider more normalized range of motion.

Chiropractic promotes proper alignment. When used alongside regular exercise, it has been shown to ease the pain. While chiropractic can’t “Fix” scoliosis, as many patients do ask, it can help to drastically improve quality of life.

28 Adult patients who are affected by scoliosis participated in the study. Disability scores were cut by 50% in just a six-month span of monitored treatment. They showed improved spinal alignment and reported a 40% reduction in pain levels. Additionally, breathing became easier and many reported that they were finally able to breathe what they considered to be normally again.

The Assessment

Spinal rigidity – How rigid the spine is to start is a great indication of what is being dealt with and how much work the patient will require to correct.

Sensorimotor Integration (SMI) – how well your brain is able to communicate with your body.

The dedication of the patient to self-healing – the amount of improvement you will be able to attain depends greatly on how much effort is put in on their part. Time and dedication to exercise routines, stretching, and appointments.

Finding the right approach to scoliosis management is crucial to living an active healthy life.

We would love to chat with you here in our office at the Nutrition Specialists of Florida | Chiropractor Bonita Springs centrally located in Bonita Springs, FL regarding scoliosis treatment options. Let us see what we can do for you. Visit us online at www.chiropractorbonitasprings.com or call our office by dialing 239-947-1177.

Chiropractic – Getting to the Truth

chiropractic

chiropracticFor those familiar with chiropractors already, they know from their own personal experience that chiropractic simply works. As for those who haves yet to experience chiropractic there seem to be a few rumors floating around out there. Today we would like to try and clear the air as to fact vs. myth.

Misconception #1– Chiropractors are not real doctors.

False. The biggest difference between medical doctors and chiropractors is not their level of education but in their method of treating patients.

Let’s look at both forms of treatment

Chiropractors – For soft tissue damage and misalignments, there is no miracle chemical compound that can correct this. It requires a physical solution. This is where chiropractic adjustment comes in as well as recommended exercises, stretching, and muscle therapy. Chiropractors are able to help your body to work and function correctly in order to be able to heal itself.

Medical doctors – Medical doctors are, as they are accurately named, trained in the use of medicine as well as surgery. If you have a chemically treatable problem, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a bacterial infection, medical treatment can be an answer.

Schooling for a Doctorate of Chiropractic (D.C.) and schooling for a Medical Degree, in curricula, are virtually identical. The Chiropractic degree actually requires more hours of classroom learning than the medical degree. Chiropractic students are required to complete a supervised residency just as medical doctors are. Upon graduation, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams where they intend to practice.

Chiropractors are subject to the same type of licensing, testing procedures, and monitoring by state and national peer-reviewed boards. Federal and state programs, such as Workers’ Compensations programs, Medicare, and Medicaid cover chiropractic. Federal agencies accept sick-leave certificates signed by D.C.’s.

Their doctorate is in every way equal to that of a medical doctor.

Misconception #2 – Medical doctors don’t believe in chiropractors.

Untrue. While it may have been the case way back in the 1940s and even as recently as the 1970s in the years following the overall opinion of the vast majority of the medical community has changed. There have been studies conducted showing that chiropractic does indeed help patients with a wide range of conditions and can work very well in conjunction with more traditional medical care. Hospitals across the country staff chiropractors as do many medical offices.

Misconception #3 – If you get adjusted once, you must go for the rest of your life. It’s better to just leave things be.

Though of course recommended is a lifetime of preventative wellness care, that is totally up to the individual. You can receive just a single adjustment in a life time or regular care. There is no mandate, and being adjusted and in alignment simply makes you feel better. The likely reason this idea got started was that once you feel what your body feels like in alignment and working properly, you will not want to accept a lesser version of your health.

Chiropractic is very much akin to going to the dentist. Can you get your teeth cleaned only once? Sure. But you may not experience full dental health if you don’t continue to go on a regular basis for preventive maintenance.

This statement comes up frequently when the topic of chiropractic is discussed. It is only partially true. You only have to continue going to the chiropractor as long as you wish to maintain the health of your neuromusculoskeletal system. Going to a chiropractor is much like going to the dentist, exercising at a gym, or eating a healthy diet: As long as you keep it up, you continue to enjoy the benefits.

We hope this has cleared up some common misnomers about chiropractic. Thank you for reading and we hope to see you in our office sometime soon for an adjustment. If you would like to schedule an appointment in either our Fort Myers or Naples offices please give us a call at 239-332-2555 or visit www.drkasters.com.