Unhealthy behaviors in patients should be managed as aggressively as hypertension, high cholesterol, and other heart disease risk factors, suggests an American Heart Association policy statement published in the journal Circulation. 

Interprofessional practices must be created in order to connect patients with behavior-change specialists. The following five A’s need to be implemented when caring for patients -

1. Assess a patient’s risk behaviors for heart disease
2. Advise change, such as weight loss or exercise
3. Agree on an action plan
4. Assist with treatment
5. Arrange for follow-up care.