TEMPORAL ARTRITIES- SYMPTOMS-TREATMENT

Temporal Arteritis

Temporal arteritis is a condition in which the temporal arteries,
which supply blood to the head and brain, become inflamed or damaged.
It is also known as cranial arteritis or giant cell arteritis.
Although this condition usually occurs in the temporal arteries,
temporal arteritis can occur in almost any medium to large artery in
the body.
Older individuals, over 60 years of age, are more likely than younger
individuals to develop the condition. According to St. Luke's Cataract
and Laser Institute, women are almost four times as likely as men to
develop temporal arteritis.
Although the exact cause of the condition is unknown, there may be a
link with the body's autoimmune response. In addition, excessive doses
of antibiotics and certain severe infections have been linked to
temporal arteritis. There is no known prevention for the condition.
However, once diagnosed, temporal arteritis can be treated to minimize
complications.

Symptoms of Temporal Arteritis

Symptoms of temporal arteritis can include:
*.excessive sweating
*.disturbances in vision (blurred vision, double vision, reduced vision)
*.sudden, permanent loss of vision in one eye
*.throbbing headache (usually in the temples)
*.fatigue and weakness
*.general ill feeling
*.loss of appetite
*.muscle aches
*.transient jaw pain (this sometimes, but does not always, occur with chewing)
*.fever
*.unintentional weight loss
*.bleeding gums
*.facial pain
*.hearing loss
*.mouth sores
*.drooping eyelid
*.joint pain and stiffness
*.shoulder and hip pain and stiffness (While these symptoms are
indicative of polymyalgia rheumatica, approximately 50 percent of
patients with temporal arteritis also have polymyalgia rheumatica.)
*.depression
*.tenderness in the scalp and temple areas.

Treatment of Temporal Arteritis

Temporal arteritis cannot be cured. Therefore, the goal of treatment
is to minimize tissue damage that can occur due to inadequate blood
flow caused by the condition.
If temporal arteritis is suspected, treatment should begin
immediately, even if test results have not yet confirmed the
diagnosis. This is because, if temporal arteritis is allowed to
continue untreated, it can cause serious, potentially life-threatening
complications. These complications include stroke, blindness, and
aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysm can lead to massive internal bleeding
and death.
Therefore, if diagnosis is suspected and the results are pending, your
doctor will prescribe oral corticosteroids. Your doctor may also
recommend taking Aspirin to treat the musculoskeletal symptoms. The
treatment typically lasts for one to two years. While you are
undergoing corticosteroid therapy, it is important that you maintain a
regular check-up schedule with your doctor. He or she will need to
monitor your progress, as well as the way that your body is handling
the drugs. Prolonged use of corticosteroids can have detrimental
effects on your bones and other metabolic functions.
The following measures are generally recommended as part of treatment:
*.taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement
*.quitting smoking
*.doing weight-bearing exercise, like walking
*.getting regular bone density screenings
Once you have finished your course of treatment, you will still need
to see your doctor for checkups, because temporal arteritis can recur.