Headache and vision problems signals of the body

Headaches may indicate a disturbed immune system

16/10/2014

Headaches affect almost everyone at some point and represent after back pain the second most common form of pain dar. The complaints are indeed for the person concerned very uncomfortable, but usually there is no reason to worry. However, when a headache first appears at a higher age, a doctor should definitely clarify whether a serious condition is behind it.

More than 50 million people suffer from headaches
Almost everyone knows a headache, in this country alone, more than 50 million people are affected either chronically or seizure-wise. In total, about 200 different headache types are known, which are mostly dull, oppressive tension-type headaches and migraines, which often occur in combination. Headaches can be very uncomfortable and significantly affect the quality of life, but it is medically harmless in most cases. However, headaches can always be an indication of a serious condition and should therefore be urgently clarified by a doctor in some cases.

Untreated giant cell arteritis can lead to blindness
This applies, for example, when the symptoms first appear in a person over the age of 50 years, as these could be a warning sign for a defunct immune system. Cause could be e.g. a so-called „giant“ (also „Temporal arteritis“), which is a systemic vasculitis affecting primarily the elderly. Here, a rapid start of therapy is particularly important, because if left untreated there is a blindness risk of 20%, since the inflammation of the vessels also affects the blood flow to the optic disc.

Dysregulation of the immune system can lead to closures in extreme cases
The cause of arteritis is a malfunction of the immune system, which thereby directed against the body itself and reacts to endogenous structures with inflammation, said Prof. Wolfgang Schmidt of the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh) to the news agency „dpa“. This could possibly have serious consequences, because „Larger cell accumulations are formed so that the veins become thick and swollen. In extreme cases, occlusions can occur“, explains Prof. Schmidt.

Unspecific symptoms such as fever and heavy sweating
Will the as well „Horton's disease“ however, the symptoms can be quickly alleviated in most cases. However, early detection is often difficult due to nonspecific signs of disease, as the hallmark is bilateral, sudden headache, and there are problems with chewing, scalp hypersensitivity, visual disturbances such as migraine. Eyelashes and typical flu symptoms such as fever, heavy sweating, fatigue and weight loss. However, since these signs also point to other diseases, they would often be misinterpreted, according to Prof. Schmidt. Accordingly, a doctor should always be consulted for the first time, but also in case of increased or more frequently than usual headaches, in order to exclude a serious illness.

Therapy usually very tedious
According to Prof. Wolfgang Schmidt, various methods would be considered for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, e.g. Visual and tactile findings or imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging or the so-called „color-coded duplex sonography“, through which vascular changes can be visualized. If there is a suspicion of arteritis, high-dose cortisone is usually given to fight the inflammatory processes. Although this works fast, the therapy is usually quite tedious and can even last for life in severe cases, which can lead to unwanted side effects and secondary diseases such as osteoporosis or hypertension as a result of the cortisone tablets. (No)