The Santa Ana Water Tower is illuminated purple for Chiari Malformation Awareness Month

The City of Santa Ana has illuminated its iconic Water Tower with purple lights to recognize Chiari Malformation Awareness Month.

Chiari Malformation is a little known but serious neurological disorder in which the bottom part of the brain, the cerebellum, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine, causing debilitating pain and life-threatening symptoms.

These symptoms can include headaches, neck pain, muscle weakness, numbness, slurred speech, blurred vision and other problems.

Chiari affects over 300,000 people in the United States.

You can help create awareness about this disorder by taking the time to learn more about the condition and how it affects the lives of those who suffer from it.

To learn more about Chiari Malformation visit www.chiariassociation.org/ or www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/fact-sheets/chiari-malformation-fact-sheet.