[kevinali1]

I find this phenomenon similar to many other diseases. A certain diet or lifestyle works wonders in preventing it. But if you have it, there is little you can do to treat it outside of medical treatment. Eg diabetes, kidney failure, cancer.

[montrose]

This is not only an important point in itself, but could be an interesting way to look at medicine: to model it as a process where something overflows. (I don't know what I mean more precisely than that.)

[kevinali1]

Like a waterfall. Once you're over the edge, it's an entirely different ball game.

[CardenB]

I think this is pretty commonly referred to as "preventative medicine"