Declare Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 3047 BY: Senator DEFRANCISCO MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2017, as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in the State of the New York WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in participating in certain months designated to raise awareness of important issues; and WHEREAS, September 2017 will be observed as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month to increase public awareness of brain aneurysms and the signs and symptoms of this serious medical condition; and WHEREAS, A brain aneurysm, also referred to as a cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm (IA), is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery; as the artery wall becomes gradually thinner from the dilation, the blood flow causes the weakened wall to swell outward, which may cause the aneurysm to rupture and allow blood to escape into the space around the brain; and WHEREAS, Small un-ruptured aneurysms can often be monitored and do not always require surgery; and WHEREAS, Large brain aneurysms are more dangerous and symptoms may include severe headache, dilated pupils, double vision, pain above and behind the eye, loss of consciousness, nausea, sudden weakness and numbness and/or difficulty speaking; all of these mentioned symptoms are cause for careful evaluation by a physician; and WHEREAS, Risk factors for aneurysm rupture include smoking, high blood pressure, and a family or personal history of a ruptured aneurysm; and WHEREAS, Over the years, the medical treatment of brain aneurysms has advanced to be more effective and less invasive for patients; treatment or observation is often used for an aneurysm that has not ruptured, however, once an aneurysm has ruptured, the options are either open surgery or an endovascular approach; and WHEREAS, Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month was first established by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation to help reduce aneurysm rupture by raising awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors for brain aneurysms; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2017, as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in the State of New York, and to urge its citizens to educate themselves about the signs and symptoms and the prevention and treatment of brain aneurysms; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Legislative Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.