The world is facing an unprecedented rise in chronic lifestyle-related disease.
Chronic diseases are affecting people at younger ages than before. Even children and young adults are being diagnosed with conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that many young adults aged 18 to 34 had one or more chronic health conditions. This is worrying and shows that we need to make changes now, for ourselves and for future generations.
Healthcare systems across the globe are seeing increasing rates of:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Certain cancers
- Anxiety and depression
- Fatty liver disease
- Chronic inflammation-related conditions
Many of these illnesses develop slowly over time. They are often connected to our daily habits and the environment we live in.
Treating long-term disease costs a lot of money. It can also affect people emotionally and socially. Chronic illness can lower our quality of life, reduce productivity, increase reliance on medication, and lead to serious long-term complications that may have been delayed or prevented.
This is why it is critical that we have these conversations.
Prevention focuses on helping people stay healthy before serious disease develops.
Preventative medicine focuses on spotting risks early, avoiding disease where possible, and dealing with health problems before they become severe. It shifts the focus from only treating illness to also supporting overall health and wellbeing.
I discuss this in detail in the opening chapter of my book: An Integration of Ideas – Introducing Totalism which was published earlier this year.
Prevention includes:
- Encouraging healthier eating habits
- Promoting regular movement
- Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing
- Improving sleep
- Reducing chronic stress
- Creating healthier communities and workplaces
Prevention works because small changes done consistently can make a big difference over time.
People do not always need extreme changes to improve their health. Simple habits like walking every day, sleeping better, eating fewer ultra-processed foods, managing stress, and having good social support can lower the risk of disease
Many people now understand that it is not enough to just live longer.
The real goal is to stay healthy for longer; to maintain your energy, movement, thinking ability, independence, and quality of life. Prevention also helps people feel more in control of their health. While genetics and life circumstances do matter, daily habits still play a big role, which is encouraging for us to know and can give us hope.
“Healthcare should not only be about adding years to life but also adding life to years.”
Listen to my interview with Anton Brink from Radio Cape Pulpit on 28 May 2026 to learn more. Listen to my next interview on Thursday at 7.45am.