Adherence

Postponing the onset of chronic disease and disability through lifestyle interventions (primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention) compresses the period of morbidity, reducing lifetime disability and healthcare costs without necessarily extending maximum life expectancy.

To compress your morbidity, focus on preventing risk factors (primordial prevention) and reducing existing ones (primary/secondary prevention). This means avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and managing conditions like hypertension. These actions delay the onset of disability more than they extend your maximum lifespan, resulting in fewer years of suffering and lower healthcare costs. It is not inevitable; it requires active lifestyle management.