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Health & Fitness

Lobbying for brain aneurysm awareness

Brain Aneurysm Foundation supporters from Glen Ellyn, Chicago and Crestwood Illinois traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for brain aneurysm awareness.

It is estimated that more than 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. While most are small and an estimated 50 to 80 percent of all aneurysms do not rupture during the course of a person’s lifetime, more than 30,000 people will be affected by a ruptured brain aneurysm this year. 40% of those people who suffer a ruptured aneurysm will die and of those who survive, 60% will face some type of disability.

What is proven is that early detection can save lives. Recently, The Brain Aneurysm Foundation and supporters from Glen Ellyn, Chicago and around the country were in Washington, D.C. for a series of meetings with legislators, asking for:

  • Support for research funding
  • Support for future bills to ensure insurance companies are required to pay for screenings for patients as deemed appropriate by medical personnel
  • Support for future bills to ensure insurance companies are required to provide more coverage for rehabilitative care
  • House members to support H. Res. 341, sponsored by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), to establish September as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month

Funding for brain aneurysm awareness and research continues to lag. According to 2011 statistics provided by the National Institute of Health, aneurysm research receives only $1.61 million in public funding. This compares to $3.05 billion allocated to AIDS research, $44 million allocated to ALS research and $715 million allocated to breast cancer research.

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“Brain aneurysm research clearly needs additional funding to make great strides in the areas of detection and treatment,” said Christine Buckley, executive director of The Brain Aneurysm Foundation. “Each year, we raise private dollars to fund research being conducted by some of the leading medical professionals in this field. This work has made a significant difference for individuals who are diagnosed with an aneurysm. But more needs to be done.”

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation relies on fundraising support from individuals and organizations to continue to fund education and research to promote early detection of brain aneurysms, which ultimately saves lives. For more information, visit: http://www.bafound.org.

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