PRINTER'S NO. 2404
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
446
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY O'MARA, BIZZARRO, SCHLOSSBERG, MURT, FREEMAN,
LONGIETTI, DiGIROLAMO, SONNEY, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW, KORTZ,
WILLIAMS, BURNS, McCLINTON, MILLARD, CALTAGIRONE, YOUNGBLOOD,
NEILSON AND MALAGARI, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing July 22, 2019, as "World Brain Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "World Brain Day" is celebrated annually on July 22,
bringing attention to a different brain condition or disease
each year; and
WHEREAS, The World Federation of Neurology is partnering with
the International Headache Society to support the fifth annual
"World Brain Day" to bring migraine out of the shadows and
increase education and awareness efforts; and
WHEREAS, The key messages that the partnership has chosen
include prevalence, disability, education, standard of care and
research; and
WHEREAS, Migraine is the most common brain disease in the
world and the third most common disease overall, estimated to
affect one in seven people worldwide and approximately 39
million Americans alone; and
WHEREAS, Women are more likely to suffer from migraine, with
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approximately 20% of women and 10% of men reporting migraine
symptoms; and
WHEREAS, Migraine is more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy
and asthma combined; and
WHEREAS, Migraine is characterized by severe head pain,
cognitive impairment, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo,
impaired vision and sensitivity to light, sound and touch; and
WHEREAS, Migraine is often associated with other health
conditions such as stroke, heart disease, epilepsy and
depression due to the debilitating impact it can have on one's
quality of life and function; and
WHEREAS, For those with migraine, more than 75% report a
migraine episode or attack at least once a month, and more than
half experience disabling effects and impairment; and
WHEREAS, Because migraine most often affects those who are
considered to be of prime working age, between 25 and 55 years
of age, the impact of migraine can have a severe effect on
productivity for employers; and
WHEREAS, Most recently, it was estimated that employers that
offer health care benefits, paid leave and disability insurance
pay approximately $84,000 annually per 1,000 employees for
migraine-related expenses, most of which are due to lost work
time; and
WHEREAS, On average, employees are burdened with an
additional $2,000 in health care expenses in order to manage
their migraine; and
WHEREAS, Though migraine disorders are largely associated
with adulthood, approximately one in eight children suffer from
pediatric migraine, and 60% of children report headaches; and
WHEREAS, In young children, boys and girls report the same
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incidence of migraine, but the gap between boys and girls widens
during puberty, with more girls diagnosed with migraine than
boys; and
WHEREAS, Migraine can also present differently in children
than in adults with symptoms that are not traditionally
associated with migraine, such as acute gastrointestinal pain
and vomiting; and
WHEREAS, Migraine in adults typically affects one side of the
head, but children may report acute pain on both sides of the
head; and
WHEREAS, Children may struggle to isolate and understand the
origin of their pain when accompanied by gastrointestinal signs
and symptoms, making it difficult for health care providers to
reach a diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosing and treating pediatric migraine presents
unique challenges that do not occur in the management of adult
migraine due to the fragility of the developing brain; and
WHEREAS, Some medications that are approved for adults have
not been approved for children, making it difficult to achieve
pain relief in some cases; and
WHEREAS, Treatment can include over-the-counter pain
relievers, while nonmedication treatment strategies can include
cool, dark spaces combined with relaxation techniques; and
WHEREAS, Pediatric migraine can be incredibly interruptive
for young children trying to actively participate in school and
after-school activities; and
WHEREAS, Migraine in both adults and children is vastly
under-researched, as it receives less research funding than any
of the world's most burdensome diseases; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize July
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22, 2019, as "World Brain Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives offer support and
encouragement to those of all ages struggling with migraine
disorders; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
immense need for increased research and awareness efforts to
improve the management and outlook for those who are faced with
the effects of migraine, particularly children.
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