The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), parent non-profit of the CreakyJoints® online patient community, today announced the observance of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) Awareness Day on October 23, 2025, dedicated to increasing understanding, improving early diagnosis, and supporting people living with this serious inflammatory disease of the blood vessels.

GCA Awareness Day has been officially proclaimed by the Governors of Connecticut and Hawaiʻi. These declarations recognize the urgent need for timely diagnosis and treatment of GCA to prevent complications such as irreversible vision loss.

“Giant Cell Arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, primarily affects adults over 50 and can, without rapid treatment, can lead to sudden, permanent vision loss,” said Seth Ginsberg, GHLF’s Co-Founder and President.

“This Awareness Day helps patients, caregivers, and clinicians recognize the signs sooner, act faster, and improve outcomes,” he added.

“GCA Awareness Day in Connecticut represents an opportunity to cast a light on this often- misunderstood disease. As a state senator deeply invested in the health and well-being of my constituents, I am pleased to support GHLF’s tireless patient advocacy efforts around important health awareness topics like GCA,” said State Senator Ryan Fazio, who represents Connecticut’s 36^th District.

Empowering Patients and Clinicians Through Trusted Information

At GHLF.org/GCA, visitors can access clear, evidence-based information about the disease, including:

• What Is GCA: An overview of the condition, which affects medium and large arteries and its hallmark symptoms, such as severe headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw pain, and visual changes. It can occur in people who already have polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a muscle and joint condition.
• Recent Research: Summaries of key studies highlighting early diagnosis and treatment advances.
• Patient Stories: Real voices of people living with GCA, such as Nathalie R., who reminds others, “Rather than focusing on what I can’t do, I ask what I can do to keep embracing life.”
• Provider Perspectives: Insights from renowned rheumatologists like Dr. Philip Mease, MD, on aligning treatment goals with what matters most to patients.

The site also offers downloadable educational resources and links to CreakyJoints®, where patients and families can connect and learn from one another.

A Collective Effort to Raise Awareness

On October 23, GHLF will activate its nationwide community through social media, podcasts, newsletters, and storytelling campaigns to amplify patient and clinician perspectives. The initiative aims to shorten the diagnostic delay that patients often face and ensure that everyone over 50 understands when to seek care for possible GCA symptoms.

This program is made possible with the support of AbbVie, underscoring its commitment to exploring how it can identify and address unmet needs for patients with immune-mediated diseases.

About the Global Healthy Living Foundation

The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Upper Nyack, New York, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses through advocacy, education, and patient-centered research. GHLF is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the digital community for arthritis patients and caregivers, and PatientSpot™, a 48,000+ patient digital registry that advances real-world evidence with patient reported outcomes.

To learn more or to get involved, visit www.GHLF.org/GCA

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Connecticut and Hawaiʻi recognize the urgent need for timely diagnosis and treatment of GCA to prevent complications such as irreversible vision loss.