Swollen veins in the temples do not always indicate pathology. This phenomenon is often observed in people involved in hard work or sports. Vessels respond in this way to physical stress. In these cases, swelling quickly passes after rest. However, if such a symptom is constantly noted, then, most likely, it is associated with a disease of blood vessels or nerves.
Norm
Veins in the temples can shine through or appear in the elderly (from 60 - 65 years). If a person does not bother with a headache, then this can be considered normal. The vascular pattern becomes convex and noticeable due to age-related skin changes. The older the person, the faster his epidermis loses collagen. This leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the skin. The appearance of wrinkles and the bulging of blood vessels under the skin are associated with such natural processes.
Sometimes you can notice how in young and middle-aged people veins appear on the temples. The reason for this may be the impact of the following adverse factors:
- physical overvoltage;
- stress
- overheating of the body (while visiting a sauna or bath);
- jumps in blood pressure;
- lifting heavy objects;
- muscle tension during sports.
In these cases, the swelling of the veins is temporary, not accompanied by pain and quickly passes. This is also not a sign of pathology.
Deviations
If a person has a vein on his temple, then it is very important to pay attention to the accompanying pathological manifestations. It is necessary to consult a doctor in cases where bloating is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain in the temples;
- headaches;
- visual impairment;
- pain when pressing the temporal region;
- nausea
- increased blood pressure;
- sensation of ripple in the temples.
Such signs most often indicate the presence of pathology. If vascular swelling is noted as an isolated symptom, then it is most likely caused by age-related changes or random causes.
Possible diseases
Often, elderly people experience severe pain and bloating of the veins in their temples. Why is this happening? Such symptoms may indicate temporal arteritis. This is an inflammatory vascular disease that occurs mainly in women over the age of 60.
If a person has a vein swollen at the temple, and at the same time he complains of a headache and nausea, then this may be a sign of clogging of blood vessels. This condition is very dangerous, as it can lead to cerebral ischemia and stroke.
If bloating is observed only on the left temple and is accompanied by pain, this may indicate damage to the nerves of the brain and spinal cord.
Further we will consider these pathologies in more detail.
Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritis often occurs in older people. Autoimmune processes or transmitted infectious diseases can become its cause. Inflammation occurs in the walls of blood vessels, accompanied by the formation of pathological large cells. Therefore, doctors call this disease giant cell temporal arteritis.
The patient has the following symptoms of the disease:
- swelling of veins in the temples;
- severe pain in the temple, extending to the neck, shoulder, forehead and cheeks;
- increased pain during chewing;
- drooping eyelids;
- double vision
- decreased visual acuity;
- swelling and redness of the temporal region.
The disease is subject to immediate treatment at the stage of diagnosis. Without therapy, such a pathology can lead to vision loss and stroke.
Vein thrombosis
Veins in the temples may swell due to blockage or compression of blood vessels. The cause of this pathology is heart and lung disease, as well as tumors. In this case, the outflow of blood in the veins is disturbed, which leads to their swelling.
Thrombosis is always accompanied by a headache. As the pathology develops, the patient develops nausea, dizziness, and arms and legs movements are disturbed. Such manifestations indicate ischemia of the brain. Without treatment, this pathology can lead to hemorrhage in the brain tissue.
Damage to the nerves of the spinal cord and brain
Bulge veins can be associated not only with vascular, but also with neurological pathologies. In this case, the lesion is usually noted on the left side. Vascular distention is accompanied by pain. Unpleasant sensations are shooting in nature. Patients compare pain in the left temple with an electric shock.
The nerves of the spinal cord and brain can be damaged due to trauma or compression. The defeat of the nerve endings in the temple area is always accompanied by swelling and bloating.
Ripple in the temples
A pulsating vein in a temple is not always a sign of illness. This symptom can occur with fatigue and stress. However, this may be a manifestation of pathologies:
- neurocirculatory dystonia;
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- arterial hypertension;
- spasms of blood vessels;
- atherosclerosis.
Ripple is accompanied by headache and dizziness. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only an expert can determine the exact cause of the ripple in the temples.
Diagnostics
A surgeon or a phlebologist is involved in the treatment of vascular diseases accompanied by bloating of veins. Often patients require a consultation with a neurologist or rheumatologist. To clarify the diagnosis, the following examinations are prescribed:
- blood test for C-reactive protein and ESR;
- echoencephalogram;
- REG of blood vessels of the brain;
- MRI and CT of the brain;
- Dopplerography of the veins of the neck and head;
- biopsy of the affected vessels.
If the patient complains of a pulsation in the temples, then it is necessary to measure his blood pressure and take a blood test for lipids.
Treatment
Bloating veins in the temples is not a separate disease. This may be only one of the symptoms of various pathologies. Therefore, treatment will depend on the cause of this manifestation.
For temporal arteritis, corticosteroids (Prednisolone) and cytostatics (Azathioprine, Methotrexate) are prescribed. Such treatment is aimed at stopping the autoimmune process. At the same time, it is recommended to take blood thinners (Aspirin).
Vein thrombosis is treated with Heparin injections. This tool prevents the formation of clots in blood vessels. Venoprotectors are also prescribed: Hepatrombin, Ascorutin, and vasodilator drugs: Dibazol, Agapurin.
If pain and throbbing in the temples is associated with hypertension, then antihypertensive drugs are prescribed: Enap, Enalapril. In case of atherosclerosis, anti-lipid drugs are prescribed: Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin. In this case, it is recommended to follow a diet with a restriction of fats.
When veins are bloated due to spasms and neurological pathologies, the appointment of antispasmodics and anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated: Spazgan, Ketanova, Pentalgin.
In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention. Do surgery on the vessels - angioprosthetics or bypass surgery. Such treatment is indicated in the presence of complications or severe thrombosis. Also, surgery is necessary when squeezing the vessel with a tumor. In this case, the neoplasm must be removed.
Prevention
People older than 55 - 60 years old should be regularly examined head vessels. It is at this age that most often there are problems with veins and arteries in the temples. It is also necessary to timely cure infectious pathologies that often cause temporal arteritis.
It is also important to monitor the level of blood pressure. Hypertension quite often causes bloating of the veins and a sensation of pulsation in the temples. People prone to hypertension need to limit their fat intake. Atherosclerosis of the vessels often leads to problems with veins, blockage of blood vessels and cerebral ischemia.