The end of illness

Written by a physician, this is a work that radically redefines conventional conceptions of health and illness to offer new methods for living a long, healthy life. After considering the discoveries that have led to progress in treating some diseases, the author asked an essential question: Why aren...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Agus, David, 1965-
Other Authors: Loberg, Kristin
Format: Books Print Book
Language:English
Published: New York : Free Press, 2012.
Edition:1st Free Press hardcover ed.
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Written by a physician, this is a work that radically redefines conventional conceptions of health and illness to offer new methods for living a long, healthy life. After considering the discoveries that have led to progress in treating some diseases, the author asked an essential question: Why aren't we better at curing illnesses like cancer? Based on his research and the clinical trials he has conducted at the nation's leading medical centers, he came to the realization that we've been approaching medicine from a faulty perspective, and the best way to prevent and combat maladies like cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegeneration is to first embrace a totally new view of the human body. This book asks readers to reconsider everything they think they know about health and give up believing many myths that may actually be causing them harm and decreasing longevity. These myths revolve around a spectrum of misconceptions, from the benefits of vitamins and supplements to the role of DNA in one's fate. In attempting to reduce our understanding of ailments to a mutation, germ, or deficiency, he proves we have forgotten that the body is a complex system. He presents a systemic picture of the body's vast mechanisms that drive it either toward or away from sickness, empowering readers to take charge of their individual health in very personal, customized ways they've never imagined before. Along the way, he offers insights and access to new technologies that promise to transform medicine in our generation. He also shows that there is no "right" answer in health decisions. This is a radically different approach that will not only change how we care for ourselves, but also how we develop the next generation of treatments and cures. It represents a dramatic departure from orthodox thinking that promises to revolutionize our quest for long, healthy lives.
Physical Description:xiv, 335 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (p. 307-312) and index.
ISBN:9781451610178 (hardback)
1451610173 (hardback)
Author Notes:David B. Agus is a cancer doctor and biomedical researcher. He is a professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California and heads U.S.C.'s Westside Cancer Center and the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. He has written several books including The End of Illness and A Short Guide to a Long Life.

(Bowker Author Biography)