1Recognizing the month of September 2014 as "Chiari Malformation
2Awareness Month."

3WHEREAS, Chiari malformation, as recognized by the National
4Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, includes a
5complex group of disorders characterized by herniation of the
6cerebellum; and

7WHEREAS, The herniated tissue blocks the circulation of
8cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which can lead to the
9formation of a cavity within the spinal cord; and

10WHEREAS, Symptoms of Type I Chiari malformation include
11severe headache, dizziness, vertigo, disequilibrium, visual
12disturbances, difficulty swallowing, heart palpitations, sleep
13apnea, impaired fine motor skills, chronic fatigue and painful
14tingling of the hands and feet; and

15WHEREAS, Because of the complex symptomology, patients with

1Type I Chiari malformation are frequently misdiagnosed; and

2WHEREAS, Type II Chiari malformation, also called Arnold-
3Chiari malformation, is usually accompanied by a
4myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida that occurs when the
5spinal canal and the backbone do not close before birth, causing
6the spinal cord to protrude through an opening in the back,
7which can result in partial or complete paralysis below the
8spinal opening; and

9WHEREAS, Type III Chiari malformation, the most serious form,
10results in severe and often irreversible neurological defects;
11and

12WHEREAS, Treatment for this disorder is not a certain and
13definitive path and medication may ease certain symptoms such as
14pain, but often surgery is the only treatment available to
15correct functional disturbances or halt the progression of
16damage to the central nervous system; and

17WHEREAS, Until recently, Chiari malformation was regarded as
18a rare condition, but with the increased use of magnetic
19resonance imaging, the number of reported cases has risen from
20200,000 to 2 million; and

21WHEREAS, New genetic studies support a hereditary tendency
22with a transmissibility rate of 12%; and

23WHEREAS, These studies also find that women are three times
24more likely to be afflicted by the debilitating disorder than
25men; therefore be it

26RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
27month of September 2014 as "Chiari Malformation Awareness Month"
28and help promote advocacy for this important cause.