Health Press NA Inc began 30 years ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico. When the company was founded there was a distinction between "health" publishers and "new age" publishers. Now the lines between traditional and complimentary or alternative medicine are beginning to soften. After librarians began asking for children's books on health, Health Press began publishing disease or condition-specific story books, now called "bibliotherapy" books, on unusual or frequently overlooked medical conditions.

Kathleen Frazier, the owner and publisher, relocated the company to Albuquerque in 2000. With 28 books currently in print, and three more in production, the topics range from the dangers of food additives to the emotional aspects of heart disease, living with chronic pain issues to the medical/emotional needs of the very old, and even to herbal remedies for neurological conditions. The children's books are on topics such as juvenile diabetes, peanut allergy, lactose intolerance, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, to name just a few.

The award winning books published by Health Press NA Inc. are created to meet the need for easy access to responsible, accurate patient education materials. Written and reviewed by medical professionals, these easy to understand books focus on providing explanation, reassurance, and answers to questions patients ask. Both the adult and children's books educate the readers and provide information about choices in treatments, nutritional approaches, and solutions. These books can open doors to knowledge of health related topics not only for those personally dealing with the health issue, but also for their peers, colleagues, family members and others. Several of the Health Press books have been chosen for use in college courses, and many of the children's books are standards in mental health practitioner's offices.

The authors of Health Press NA Inc. are either experts in their fields or professional writers who work closely with medical professionals. One example is Dr. Frank Sileo, a psychologist whose work and personal experience guided him in writing three titles about Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance, and homesickness. Another is an author who wrote a story about peanut allergies due to the lack of children's books pertaining to the emotional peer pressure children can experience from being different.

In addition to being a publishing company, Health Press NA Inc. has maintained an online bookstore since the early 1990s, at www.healthpress.com, where they resell more than 400 books relating to health issues. In 2005, Kathleen decided to expand her business by opening an independent bookstore, The Health Press Bookstore, where she sells new and used books relating to a wide variety of health topics. While the standard books one might find on diet and nutrition are available in the store; there are also additional sections on gardening, emotional/mental health, cookbooks, and Eastern practices such as acupuncture and yoga, and exercise.

Kathleen believes that the first step in resolution to the health care crisis is better education for people about their bodies and/or medical conditions, their eating habits, and their lifestyles. While this may be one of the most difficult areas in which to convince society that change is necessary, the current epidemic of obesity, diabetes and other diseases which help to strain our economy is proof that something must be done. Health Press NA Inc. is Kathleen's contribution to help make a difference.