What is the recommended action for individuals with a high cardiovascular risk according to the CVD risk calculator?

For individuals with high cardiovascular risk, the recommended action typically includes the prescription of medications to manage both hypertension and cholesterol levels. This approach directly addresses two of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease: high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.

Prescribing antihypertensive medication helps to lower blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Alongside that, cholesterol medications, such as statins, can be effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels and subsequently decreasing cardiovascular risk.

While lifestyle changes, such as improved diet, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation, are also crucial in managing cardiovascular risk, they are usually part of a broader management plan that includes pharmacological treatment for those identified as being at high risk. Therefore, while advising lifestyle changes is important, it is often not sufficient on its own for individuals with significant risk factors.

Selecting a follow-up in a year may not be proactive enough for high-risk patients where immediate action is warranted to mitigate potential cardiovascular events. Additionally, prescribing aspirin is typically reserved for specific populations, often those with established cardiovascular disease or certain very high-risk profiles, but it is not the first line of defense in all high-risk individuals.

Thus, the comprehensive approach of combining medication to control hypertension and cholesterol forms the cornerstone