Chiari Awareness Month

For many of us, headaches are a thing we live with occasionally, requiring no more consideration than a few pain pills and a bit of lie down. For those who suffer from Chiari Malformation, waking up with a headache is simply part of their normal month, and relief is brief and unpredictable if it comes at all. Chiari Awareness Month exists to raise awareness of this condition, which, like so many Chronic Diseases, makes sufferers look otherwise perfectly healthy while being an important part of their daily struggle.

History of Chiari Awareness Month

Chiari Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide. Niagara Falls, the Electric Tower, the Peace Bridge and many other landmarks across the world light up purple on the evening of the annual Conquer Chiari Walk Across America. State officials across the country sign proclamations recognizing September as Chiari Awareness Month. Chiari is a serious neurological disorder in which the brain breaks through the skull and puts pressure on the spine and nerves, causing debilitating pain and life-threatening symptoms that desperately need more research and awareness.

I define who I am, Chiari is just a bully I beat up every morning when I get out of bed

Chiari Survivor

You can celebrate the month by participating in one of the local walks in your area, which take place on September 15 or 22, depending on your location. You can visit one of the beautifully lit landmarks on September 22 in the evening of Buffalo NY Conquer Chiari Walk. Visit the Conquer Chiari website for information and education about Chiari. Don’t let Chiari Awareness Month pass you by without taking the time to learn about this condition and how you can help, or at least be understanding, of those who suffer from it as part of their daily existence.

How to celebrate Chiari Awareness Month

Not surprisingly, one of the best ways to celebrate this month of awareness is to take the time to learn all you can about the condition and how it affects the lives of those who suffer from it. Every year thousands of people experience the difficulties of living with a Chronic Condition for which there is no cure, and we can make their lives a little easier by being an understanding ear that recognizes the reality of the struggles they face. You can also use Chiari Awareness Month to raise awareness about other chronic illnesses and even share information about them with your friends and family. Every small step helps make the world a little kinder for people with Chronic Illness.