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Chronic stress puts your body through significant physical and psychological changes.
Many people often underestimate the ability of stress to trigger several physical andmental health conditions.
One such condition is temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis.
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This condition is a form of vasculitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of your blood vessels.
Damage to these blood vessels can cause blindness.
Complications of Stress and Temporal Arteritis
Early diagnosis of temporal arteritis is crucial to avoid complications.
Complications that can arise when this condition goes untreated include losing eyesight, an aneurysm, and a stroke.
As mentioned, stress can contribute to the development of temporal arteritis.
These symptoms include elevated blood pressure, difficulty breathing, fatigue, chest pain, and sleep difficulties.
Meanwhile, several tests are used to diagnose temporal arteritis.
The piece will then be examined for any evidence of inflammation.
Treatment of Stress and Temporal Arteritis
Unfortunately, theres currently no cure for temporal arteritis.
The condition is managed with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
Medication
Glucocorticoids such as prednisone were typically the first line of medical treatment for temporal arteritis.
They are administered to alleviate the inflammation because of the condition, relieving symptoms.
Unfortunately, long-term use of steroids can cause serious side effects.
It also ensured you remained in remission for sustained periods.
Maintaining healthy stress levels isnt just vital to optimal well-being.
It can also help prevent the condition from developing in some instances.
The condition can also be prevented.
One of the early signs of temporal arteritis is a lingering headache.
Contact your healthcare provider for a definite diagnosis and to get started on an appropriate treatment plan.
Cleveland Clinic.Temporal arteritis: treatment, symptoms & diagnosis.
January 28, 2019
Cenac A, Sparfel A, Amiel-Lebigre F, et al.
[Effect of stressful life events on clinical development of temporal arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica].
2002;31(19):873-879.
2017 Dec 15;8:286. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00286
Vasculitis Foundation.Giant cell arteritis(Temporal arteritis).
FDA.FDA approves first drug to specifically treat giant cell arteritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coping with stress.November 30, 2021
