Congressional Resolution on Migraine Disease & Headache Disorder Awareness Month September 2008

Drafted by MAGNUM,
The National Migraine Association

Prepared For: Congressman James P. Moran (D-VA)
& Senator John Warner (R-VA)

SUPPORTING NATIONAL MIGRAINE DISEASE & HEADACHE DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH

DRAFT

SUPPORTING NATIONAL MIGRAINE DISEASE AND HEADACHE DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH

Mr. Leader, I move to suspend the rules and agree to

the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. XXX) supporting the goals and

ideals of National Migraine Disease and Headache Disorder Awareness Month, and for other purposes.

[[Page SXXXX]]

The Clerk read as follows:

S. Con. Res. XXXX

Whereas MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association reports that approximately 36,000,000 people in the United States suffer from Migraine disease;

Whereas approximately 54,000,000 people in the United States suffer from headache disorders of one kind or another;

Whereas 1 out of every 5 women in the United States suffers from Migraine disease;

Whereas the American Council on Headache Education(ACHE)recognizes the that direct costs to the health care system is estimated to be some 4 billion dollars with indirect costs three times that amount, or 12 billion dollars;

Whereas recent findings by the World Health Organization(WHO)reveal the burden of illness and disability secondary to Migraine is greater than the sum total of those secondary to stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis;

Whereas chronic Migraineurs can be forced to leave their jobs, abandon their leisure activities, withdraw from their families and friends, and organize their lifestyle around continual pain. This impact overflows to those who have to live and work with Migraineurs causing great hardship to all;

Whereas according to the American Headache Study II, more than half (52%) of people whose head-pain disorder fit the medical definition of Migraine remain undiagnosed;

Whereas according to the American Headache Study II, nearly six out of 10 (57%) people with Migraine continue to rely solely on inefficient treatment such as general over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or no

medications at all to relieve pain;

Whereas according to MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association, Migraine continues to be severely misdiagnosed leading to poor or no treatment contributing to episodic disability issues and needless suffering for Migrainuers;

Whereas according to the British Medical Journal, Migraine in women of childbearing age significantly increases the risk of ischemic stroke. In addition, the coexistence of oral contraceptive use, high blood pressure, and/or smoking exerts a greater than multiplicative effect on the risk of ischemic stroke associated with Migraine;

Whereas per research Migraine is a neurological disease not psychological or somatoform, but a serious physical condition that can lead to permanent visual loss, tooth damage, stroke, coma and sometimes even death;

Whereas September has been selected with American leadership in the World Headache Alliance (WHA) to celebrate annually as the international and National Migraine Disease and Headache Disorder Awareness Month in order to raise awareness regarding Migraine disability issues, as well as improved care and access to treatment of all headache disorders and impairments and to provide an opportunity for Federal, state, and local governments, members of the private and nonprofit sectors, non-government organizations, neurologists, health care professionals, and the people of the United States to focus on preventing, mitigating, managing and some day curing Migraine disease and headache disorders: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that Congress--

(1) supports the goals and ideals of a National Migraine Disease and Headache Disorder Awareness Month;

(2) commends the American Headache Society, the American Association of Neurologists, the American Medical Association, MAGNUM - The National Migraine Association, The American Council for Headache Education, the National Headache Foundation, and the World Headache Alliance for their leadership in addressing this major public health issue;

(3) supports the concept of a public health initiative to educate using a multifactoral approach to Migraine disease management which includes treating four key areas of Migraine disease management;

(A)Preventive Treatment

(B)Abortive Treatment

(C)Pain Management

(D)Trigger Management, and;

(4) supports the education of neurologists, pain specialists, researchers, and health care professionals in their efforts to improve access to appropriate medical care, and to improve the quality of life of Migraineurs; and

(5) encourages the people of the United States to have Migraine & headache symptoms checked by appropriate Migraine & headache medical experts and to avoid pain, suffering, episodic disability, economic loss, and personal anguish that Migraine & headache to which disorders are known to lead.

The Leader pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman/woman from (state?) (Mr./Ms ?).

DRAFT Rev S