Heart disease is one of the biggest health concerns facing Americans today. As the No. 1 killer in the United States, it accounts for one in every four deaths, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The good news is it is also preventable. You might think that heart disease is only a concern for older adults, but even at a young age, lifestyle decisions can put you at a higher risk for heart issues later in life.

If you’re considering a career in massage therapy, job prospects in this field are among the most promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of massage therapists is projected to increase 24 percent from 2016 to 2026. This demand is above average compared to other occupations, which in turn is a huge advantage. In the $12.1 billion massage therapy industry, today’s massage therapists have a wide variety of choices when it comes to what type of massage he or she would like to practice.

Even though it's cold and flu season, not everyone gets sick.  If you're able to fend off a contagious cold or flu, it may be because you have strong Wei Qi (pronounced "way chee"), according to oriental medicine experts. On the other hand, if you seem to catch every virus going around, you may have weak Wei Qi.

Naturopathic medicine has its roots in many traditional healing systems, including the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates who expressed the concept of “the healing power of nature” as essential to medicine over 2,400 years ago. Naturopathic medicine has grown substantially in the past three decades as a safe and effective alternative or complement to pharmaceuticals, and yet the field is not as well known as other forms of health care.

Often times, lay people are shocked to hear what the education of a chiropractic physician looks like. The rigor, length, detail, and difficulty of education is expected for medical doctors, but often a surprise to many when discussing chiropractic education.

Like medical doctors, chiropractic physicians are responsible for the health of their patients. This important responsibility is just one of several reasons why the path to becoming a chiropractic physician must be rigorous and demanding.

During the 2008 Olympics, beach volleyball players drew attention with colored stripes of Kinesio Tape. Over the years, this effective technique has become increasingly popular among athletes. As a chiropractic physician with the 2016 Olympic Village Polyclinic staff, I used the technique to help athletes gain an extra advantage that could make the difference in winning a race.

Prior to the Olympics, I taught Kinesio Taping at National University of Health Sciences since 2012. The university has a long history with this therapy since the inventor, Dr. Kenzo Kase, is a 1974 DC alum.

Kinesio Taping involves taping over and around muscles in order to send neuromuscular signals that enhance performance and help heal injuries. While Kinesio Taping is best known for its effectiveness on athletic injuries, it can also be effective for non-athletic ailments. That’s why Kinesio Taping is a versatile therapy that offers a number of benefits for everyone.

The holidays are a time to enjoy family gatherings, delicious meals, and home decorating. Nevertheless, it is easy to get over-involved in the holiday chaos and end up stressing over things that are meant to be pleasant.

Each year, there is an increasing amount of studies that show how people are stressed, and even sad, during the holiday season.

What comes to mind when you hear the term “massage therapy”? Candles? Relaxation? Aromatherapy? Spa days? Luxury? Medicine?

Biomedical sciences (BS) are the foundation of knowledge for all health care professionals, and as such, an undergraduate degree in this field is surprisingly versatile and can prepare you for a wide range of career and post-graduate educational options. In a biomedical sciences course of study, you’ll learn about everything from human anatomy and physiology, to genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition, kinesiology, and more. Not only can a BS degree be a stepping stone to traditional medical school, there are an increasing number of medical research, nutrition science, and biomedical engineering careers available to BS graduates.

Acupuncture is becoming more widely accepted as an effective means of treatment within the traditional health care system. According to an American Hospital Association survey, forty-two percent of hospitals offering complementary and alternative medicine, provide acupuncture as an outpatient service.