MELISSA BLOCK, host:
With that status as the number one killer in the country, cardiovascular disease is a big concern for many of us. NPR's Art Silverman went out on the National Mall here in Washington today to talk with people and sometimes jog along with them, asking if they're worried about their heart's health.
Unidentified Man: Not right now. Not ever really.
Unidentified Man #2: Oh, yeah. Definitely. I take my medicine, walk a lot.
ART SILVERMAN: Do you worry about your cholesterol?
Unidentified Man #3: No.
SILVERMAN: Why not?
Unidentified Man #3: Because I'm 20.
Unidentified Woman #1: I probably should worry about it, but I don't.
Unidentified Man #4: My wife has to watch her cholesterol. We try to reduce the cheese intake and red meats and stuff. That's why I'm out here, doing exercise during lunch.
Unidentified Man #5: I, you know, avoid fatty foods. Occasionally go for the hamburger, though, you know. I figure something's going to kill me.
Unidentified Man #4: I'm on medication for it. What am I taking lately? Zocor.
Unidentified Man #6: Well, I just had mine done. It was, so I'm on TriCor. They've upped my dose. Last year it was 218. This year it was 200.
Unidentified Woman #2: I think about it and I'm taking enough fiber that would kill most human beings, if you want the truth, you know. If you were a cow, it would be great.
BLOCK: Thoughts on cholesterol from Linda Purdue(ph) of Alexandria, Virginia. We also heard from Michael LeBeaux(ph) of Baton Rouge, Philip Keevey(ph) of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kevin Waylan (ph) of Centerville, Virginia, Thomas McClellan(ph) of Ellicott City, Maryland, Allison Nehome(ph) of Bethesda, Maryland, Michael Scola(ph) of Chicago and Earl Luther of San Bernardino, California. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.