My grandmother has a pounding headache and this vessel on her temple is bulging and tender. She says her jaw hurts when she eats. The ER wait is awful right now. Is this an emergency?

Upon arriving at the emergency room, doctors will conduct a thorough evaluation to assess the severity of the symptoms. This typically includes a physical examination, focusing on the head and eyes, to check for tenderness and swelling of the temporal arteries.

Blood tests, such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), may be ordered to detect inflammation. In some cases, imaging studies like an ultrasound or MRI of the temporal arteries may be performed to assess the extent of the inflammation. These tests help guide the diagnosis and treatment plan.