Dr. Meghan Candee explains Chiari malformations and their connection with headache.
There are a number of reasons behind why people get headaches. One of the less-common causes that is not as well-discussed is a Chiari malformation. More frequently observed in children than in adults, a type I Chiari malformation is when brain tissue extends or is displaced downward into the spinal canal. In other words, the back part of the brain, called the cerebellum, may reach too low into the spinal canal and cause overcrowding. This can affect the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and lead to symptoms that arise from pressure exerted upon the brainstem.
