Chiari Malformation Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Chiari Malformation (CM) is a serious neurological disorder affecting more than 300,000 people in the United States; first identified by Austrian pathologist Professor Hans Chiari in the 1890’s and categorized in four types in order of severity; and

WHEREAS, Chiari Malformations are defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance; this creates pressure on the cerebellum and brain stem and may block the normal flow of cerebral spinal fluid to and from the brain; and

WHEREAS, although the cause of Chiari I Malformation is unknown, scientists believe it is either a congenital condition caused by exposure to harmful substances during fetal development or that it can be a genetic condition, as it may appear in more than one family member; and

WHEREAS, symptoms usually appear during adolescence or early adulthood and can include severe head and neck pain, vertigo, muscle weakness, balance problems, blurred vision or double vision, difficulty swallowing and sleep apnea; and

WHEREAS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health is conducting research to find alternative surgical options and identify the cause of the Chiari Malformations to create improved treatment and prevention plans:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2014, as

Chiari Malformation Awareness Month

in the state of Alabama.