STATEHOUSE - State Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) authored a resolution during the 2011 legislative session recognizing September as Chiari Malformation Month in Indiana. "My intent with the resolution was to show support for the victims and families that face challenges in their daily lives as a result of this debilitating disease," said Rep. Crouch. "I recently participated in the Conquer Chiari Walk Across America and was pleased to see so many from our community getting out to show their support, as well." Chiari Malformation is acknowledged by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and includes a complex group of disorders characterized by herniation of the cerebellum. The herniated tissue blocks the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which can lead to the formation of a cavity within the spinal cord causing symptoms including: severe headaches, dizziness, vertigo, disequilibrium, visual disturbances, difficulty swallowing, heart palpitations, sleep apnea, impaired fine motor skills, chronic fatigue and painful tingling of the hands and feet. Chiari Malformation is a serious neurological disorder affecting 2 million people in the U.S.
-30- |
