What strategies should clinicians use to help patients lower their risk of ASCVD events?
Clinicians should work in partnership with patients to assess their readiness for sustained lifestyle improvements, identify potential barriers to change, and encourage them to try to achieve measurable goals and continue to monitor. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is best, while minimizing the consumption of trans fats, added sugars (including sugar-sweetened beverages), red meats, sodium, and saturated fats is also important. Furthermore, all adults should strive to engage in regular brisk physical activity most days of the week and adhere to a healthy dietary pattern to help lower future ASCVD risk. Finally, social determinants of ASCVD risk and their impact on the patient's ability to prevent or treat risk factors must be taken into account. Clinicians need to consider patients' health literacy and education levels and assess patients' motivation to improve their lifestyle habits.