CONDITION: Temporal Arteritis

DESCRIPTION:
Temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis is a specific form of the autoimmune disease known as vasculitis, which involves inflammation of the blood vessels. In temporal arteritis inflammation occurs in the large arteries in the brain and head, impairing blood flow through the vessels and to the surrounding tissues. The disease affects about 1 out of 1,000 people over age 50 and slightly more women than men.

How does temporal arteritis develop?
The cause of temporal arteritis is unknown. It is clear, however, that the immune system plays a critical role in the tissue damage caused by the disease. In temporal arteritis the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body, causing inflammation to develop in the blood vessels. Inflammation in blood vessel and artery walls leads to narrowing of the vessels. The blood vessels become leaky or clogged, disrupting blood flow to nerves, organs and other parts of the body. Inadequate blood supply to a particular tissue or organ can result in permanent damage such as such as loss of pulse points, pulmonary failure and blindness. Any organ or combination of organs in the body can be affected.

What are the symptoms of temporal arteritis?
The symptoms of this disease vary, depending on which arteries are affected. Typically, temporal arteritis afflicts the large arteries to the head, resulting in a severe headache that develops suddenly at the temples or back of the head. The blood vessels in the temple may feel swollen and bumpy to touch. The scalp may feel painful when the hair is brushed. Double vision, blurred vision, large blind spots, blindness of one eye or other eye problems may develop. The greatest danger is permanent blindness, which can occur suddenly if the blood supply to the optic nerve is blocked. The jaw, chewing muscles and tongue may hurt when eating or speaking. Other symptoms of the disease may be very similar to polymyalgia rheumatica.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of temporal arteritis but they do not address the root of the problem. Generally, by undergoing comprehensive natural medicine testing, the reasons the body is producing antibodies against itself can be found. Some of these reasons include sensitivities or allergies to foods, inhalants and chemicals and various infections.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat temporal arteritis.

Learn about the treatments for Temporal Arteritis