Temporal Arteritis treatment by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Symptom of temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is an inflammatory condition affecting the medium-sized blood vessels that supply the head, eyes, and optic nerves. The disease usually affects those over 60 years of age and causes the vessels in the temple and scalp to become swollen and tender. Women are approximately several times more likely to suffer from this disease then men.
   Temporal arteritis is inflammation and damage to blood vessels that supply the head area, particularly the large or medium arteries that branch from the neck. If the inflammation affects the arteries in the neck, upper body and arms, it is called giant cell arteritis.

Temporal arteritis treatment
Quick and effective treatment of patients with temporal arteritis is crucial in order to avoid vision loss. The initial prednisone dosage should be between 50 to 80 mg a day. Some doctors decrease the prednisone dosage by 10 percent each week based on symptoms, side effects and results of the ESR. In most cases steroid therapy cis stopped within one year.

Temporal arteritis symptoms
Patients with temporal arteritis have symptoms usually in one eye, but within a few days the other eye may be affected. Common temporal arteritis symptoms include severe pain in temple area, headache, blurred vision, fatigue, low mood, tenderness of the scalp, a decrease in appetite, and elevated body temperature.

Cause of Temporal arteritis
The cause of temporal arteritis is unknown but is assumed to be, at least in part, an effect of the immune response. Is the estrogen level drop after menopause one of the reason the inflammation occurs after age 50 in women? For more information on inflammation. Would dietary changes that lead to less inflammation help this condition?