Boston, MA (August 12, 2010) – Brain aneurysms can occur in anyone, at any age. An estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. Each year, about 27,000 people in the U.S. will suffer from a ruptured brain aneurysm.   About 40% of those experiencing a ruptured brain aneurysm will die.
 
To help raise awareness of the dangers and increase public awareness and understanding of brain aneurysms, including methods of early detection and treatment, Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) have introduced resolutions in Congress (S.Res.248 and H.Res.341), designating the month of September as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. Brain Aneurysm Foundation board member and Massachusetts State Representative Paul Donato (D – Medford) asked Rep. Markey to introduce the resolution in Congress.

“Representative Donato is a tireless and effective advocate for brain aneurysm awareness, and I applaud his leadership on this important health issue. Brain aneurysms are a silent killer, striking victims of every age and without warning,” said Rep. Markey. “Today, one in fifty people in Massachusetts may have a brain aneurysm that has not yet ruptured. This resolution sends a message to Americans who have been impacted by brain aneurysms that they are not alone in this fight. We must educate people about this health issue and support research for its prevention and treatment.”

A brain aneurysm is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery very much like a thin balloon or weak spot on an inner tube. Over time, the blood flow within the artery pounds against the thinned portion of the wall and aneurysms form silently from wear and tear on the arteries. As the artery wall becomes gradually thinner from the dilation, the blood flow causes the weakened wall to swell outward. This pressure may cause the aneurysm to rupture and allow blood to escape into the space around the brain. The ruptures, many of which occur without warning, can lead to brain damage, stroke, or death.
“We all know families that have seen lives changed forever when a loved one suffers a brain aneurysm. We’re making real strides in treatment and prevention and we can save more lives making sure people know the risks, the signs, and when to get help. That’s why I’m helping bring attention to this important health issue through the effort to designate September as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month,” said Senator Kerry.

There are a number of risk factors that medical professionals believe contribute to the formation of brain aneurysms, including smoking, hypertension, drug use, infection, tumors, traumatic head injury, family history, selected inherited disorders and presence of an arteriovenous malformation.  Avoiding or managing these factors can decrease the potential for brain aneurysms.

If a brain aneurysm is diagnosed early with proper screening, it can be treated before it ruptures. Understanding that early detection can make a significant difference in the outcome, The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is working to help educate individuals and first responders in how to recognize the symptoms of a brain aneurysm.  

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the nation’s only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysms. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation hopes to improve these tragic statistics and save lives by funding vital research and increasing awareness.

A number of events are planned through the United States during the September designed to raise awareness of brain aneurysms.  For more information on local events and informational materials on awareness efforts, please visit http://www.bafound.org .