Seeking temporal arteritis treatment is important if you’re experiencing the symptoms or showing the signs. Arthritis & Osteoporosis is a rheumatology clinic that can help you diagnose and manage the condition while providing the necessary treatment to help abate the symptoms so you can achieve comfort and reduce pain and tenderness.
Here’s a look at temporal arteritis with what it is, how it’s caused, its signs and symptoms, and how you can get diagnosed and treated.
What is Temporal Arteritis?
Temporal arteritis, also referred to giant cell arteritis, is an inflammatory disease that affects the blood vessels, particular the ones located in the head and scalp, but can also affect the ones in the neck and chest. This condition can cause discomfort and even reduce blood flow to the eyes and brain, which can result in permanent vision loss if it remains untreated.
What’s the Cause of Temporal Arteritis?
While there’s no specific cause that’s been discovered, the condition is immunity related. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks artery walls, which result in inflammation that restricts blood flow to specific tissues.
The condition occurs exclusively with adults over the age of 50 and is more common in women than in men. The condition is also closely associated with polymyalgia rheumatica, which affects the shoulders, hips, and neck, and can occur concurrently with temporal arteritis.
Temporal Arteritis Symptoms & Signs
Temporal arteritis symptoms can vary from person to person, but commonly, there is persistent headaches around the temples, and tenderness in the scalp after washing or brushing hair.
Common symptoms also include:
- Jaw pain or chewing fatigue
- Blurred or double vision
- Partial or complete vision loss
- General fatigue or fever
- Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite
If there’s new vision loss or issues, it can be considered an emergency and medical treatment should be sought urgently.
How is the Condition Diagnosed?
There’s no one-test solution for a temporal arteritis diagnosis. It requires a few different evaluations to determine if you have the condition. These include:
- ESR & CRP Blood Tests– measures inflammation in the body
- Vascular Ultrasound– can be used to scan temporal arteries to detect inflammation on vessel walls
- Biopsy– a small section of the temporal artery is removed and examined for inflammation
How is Temporal Arteritis Treated?
Temporal arteritis treatment includes a few different approaches that all try to help reduce the symptoms and effects of the condition. These treatments often include:
- Corticosteroids– these are generally started right away in the early stages of the condition to help prevent the symptoms, particularly vision loss, from worsening
- Daily Low-Dose Aspirin– daily aspirin usage is often recommended because of the headache alleviation as well as its effect at thinning blood, making it easier to flow through inflamed arteries
- Medicine Tapering– as inflammation begins to lessen, medication is slowly restricted
Seek Temporal Arteritis Treatment Today
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms, you’ll want to get diagnosed and treated to help alleviate the issues. Arthritis & Osteoporosis can help. We’ll run the necessary tests to properly diagnose the condition and put you on a treatment and management path to help you attain comfort and relief while reducing the severity of the symptoms.
Schedule your visit with us today*!
*It’s important to consult with your primary care professional before seeking alternative treatment.
