Giant cell arteritis: What to know

A familiar pain surges through the sides of your head like lightning. You rub your temples, desperate for relief. Most often, a headache is just that and nothing more. But these throbbing headaches may be more than they seem.

Giant cell arteritis is an inflammatory condition of the arteries, most commonly the arteries in the temples (temporal arteries). The condition mainly affects adults over age 50 of Scandinavian or other Northern European descent.

While uncommon, it’s the most common type of inflammation of the blood vessels.