A
new definition of health and how to achieve it is the subject of a new
book written by David B. Agus, M.D. a faculty physician and researcher
in the Keck School of Medicine.
Agus, professor of medicine and engineering at the Keck School and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, also heads the
USC Norris Westside Cancer Center and the
USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine.
“The End of Illness” (Free Press: Jan. 17, 2012; hardcover) is the
culmination of knowledge gained during more than two decades of
fighting cancer on the front lines. The book is intended to help
readers transform their views of their bodies and learn to see them as
complex, whole systems, instead of focusing on a single issue such as a
genetic mutation, a germ, a deficiency or a number such as blood
pressure, weight, or cholesterol.
“In an era where the explosion of medical information has far
outstripped our ability to process it, we need a new way to make
personal health choices,” writes Agus in the book. “What have we been
missing when it comes to decoding the mystery of disease?”
“The End of Illness,” Agus’ first book, clarifies the systemic
viewpoint that has encouraged him to challenge conventional ideas about
health and how to care for the human body. The book covers and
confronts topics such as vitamin supplements, exercise, inflammation,
medications, sleep, and nutrition.
David Agus, left and above, discusses a scanning procedure with Bill Weir, ABC Nightline host, who participated in medical tests as part of an interview with Agus.
“As a most dynamic oncologist and researcher, Dr. Agus has devoted his
life to finding new ways to approach and attack cancer,” said Keck
School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A. “That willingness to look
beyond established viewpoints will, I believe, unlock the secrets of
cancer and the progression of other diseases that affect our quality of
life.”
The book features long-term, big picture assessments, as well as many
easy-to-implement suggestions for personal health, from wearing
comfortable shoes to eating lunch at the same hour every day.
Among the notable individuals praising the book are Vice President Al
Gore, Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc., Steve Jobs
biographer Walter Isaacson, and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance
Armstrong.
“’The End of Illness’ reframes the entire discussion of sickness and
health,” writes Danny Hillis, professor of research medicine at the
Keck School. “Instead of thinking about disease Agus thinks about the
system that is the human body, and what we need to do to guide it
toward health. Before you take your next vitamin, read this book.”
“The End of Illness” details Agus’ frustration with the lack of
progress in many areas of medicine today, especially cancer. The book
describes what he sees as the medical community’s shortsightedness when
it comes to looking at the body. He explains how some doctors may
inflict harm on their patients, making errors ranging from
inappropriate therapies and prescribing supplements to failing to
prevent disease. He also shows how easy it is to fall prey to scare
tactics that circulate in the media and how to scrutinize and many
times dismiss wild claims.
More information about “The End of Illness” is available at the book web site, as well as on Facebook and Twitter (@davidagus).
Click
here to watch an interview with David Agus on ABC's
World News.