Arteritis

From ArticleWorld

Arteries have the task of carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body and arteritis is an irritation or swelling in the artery walls. It can affect the arteries in the neck, upper body and arms, but most often affects the temporal artery which is the one running over the temple beside the eye. In this case, it is known as temporal arteritis.

Temporal Arteritis

Also known as ‘giant cell arteritis’, this is the inflammation of the large and medium arteries of the head. The first case was reported in 1890 when a patient complained that he couldn’t wear a hat because of the pain in his head. Other symptoms include vision problems, pain when chewing, fatigue, anemia and tenderness in the temple area.

The causes of arteritis are unclear but inappropriate response of the auto-immune system is said to be triggered by the ‘disease of affluence’. Genetic, viral and environmental factors are thought to play a part. Most patients are able to achieve a complete remission if they receive treatment in time, but untreated, the disorder can lead to vision loss.

The disease is rarely found in people less than 50 years of age and women are four times more likely to suffer than men.