What Is Giant Cell Arteritis?
1. Overview
Our cardio systems play a very important role in keeping us healthily alive. The incredible network of blood vessels gets much-needed blood, that carries oxygen and nutrients, to various parts of the body. When these blood vessels are inflamed or damaged, it compromises their functionality and can risk the life of the organ or part of the body being fed.
Vasculitis refers to the inflammation of blood vessels. It is an autoimmune condition whereby the body’s own immune system attacks blood vessels mistakenly. GCA is a form of vasculitis which sees the blood vessels that feed the brain and head becoming inflamed. These are the temporal arteries. To a minor extent, this condition can also affect other medium to large-sized arteries that supply blood to other parts of the body.
