What if singing a song or rapping lyrics could give someone the power to spot stroke signs and take action? And what if sharing that song could spread power all around the world? Would you use it to save lives? Imagine the impact it could have.
Well the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) has partnered with me and David Augustine, aka Dee-1, a former teacher and now an up and coming hip hop artist, to do just that -- spread the word about stroke warning signs through music.
Our version of the song includes a music video that will bring life to the letters F.A.S.T.! Although we had plenty of fun putting this together, the message is much more important. So as a part of World Stroke Day on October 29, the AHA/ASA, Dee-1, and Tha Hip Hop Doc are urging the public to sing, rap, or chant a tune that could save lives!
World Stroke Day, established by the World Stroke Association in 2006, helps to spread public awareness about the world's high stroke risk and prevalence. Fewer than one in 10 people know what each F.A.S.T. letter means and one in three people can't name any stroke signs, according to American Stroke Association studies.
About 800,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, meaning on average a stroke occurs every 40 seconds. Stroke kills nearly 130,000 people a year and is the No. 5 cause of death in the United States. On average every four minutes someone dies from a stroke. African Americans have nearly twice the risk of a first-ever stroke than white Americans and a much higher death rate from stroke. Hispanic women are less likely than others to know most of the stroke warning signs and fewer than two-thirds of patients suffering a stroke in the U.S. call for emergency assistance. The good news is that although stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S., it is largely treatable.
"This was a fun project, but the issue (stroke) is so very important," said Dee-1. "Not only did I enjoy reuniting and working with Tha Hip Hop Doc, but I learned a lot as well. I'm hopeful that this message reaches as many people as possible. I truly believe it can help save lives."
Fast treatment is critical during a stroke to restore blood flow to the brain, prevent brain injury, and reduce and/or avoid disability. There is a short window of time that an individual has to get to the emergency room. Clot-busting medications like tPA and medical devices can be used to reverse the deleterious effects of a stroke; however, they must be utilized within that short window. Calling a loved one to take you or driving yourself to the emergency room waste valuable time, not to mention you could endanger others while on the road. Medical experts recommend calling 9-1-1 immediately upon noticing stroke symptoms activating emergency medical services so that the emergency room physicians know that someone threatening a stroke is on the way.
To help the public get in tune with the stroke signs, the association has several styles of the F.A.S.T. Song, including ours, on its website at StrokeAssociation.org/WorldStrokeDay. People are asked to share their favorite F.A.S.T. Song with family, friends, and loved ones on social media using #singFAST.
Most of us can recall using song to memorize something in history class like U.S. states in alphabetical order or the preamble to the constitution. It's fun and it works. The same principle works for learning stroke warning signs.
"The way we produced our song is catchy," said Dee-1. "The video adds icing to the cake. We think you are going to love it."
The F.A.S.T. Song and World Stroke Day campaign are part of the American Stroke Association's Together to End Stroke initiative nationally sponsored by Medtronic. Together to End Stroke teaches Americans that stroke is largely preventable, treatable, and beatable.
To learn more, visit www.StrokeAssociation.org/WorldStrokeDay. To join and follow the conversation on social media use #singFAST. You can also participate in a twitter (#StrokeChat) chat October 29 from 12-1 p.m. CDT.