Essay on Celiac Disease: Cause, Effect, and Mitigation

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten damages the lining of the small intestine and thus leads to a wide range of symptoms and health issues. However, it is often confused with gluten intolerance or misrepresented as a dietary restriction. Consequently, most people assume cutting off pasta and baked goods from one’s diet for a limited period of time is enough to cure it. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of the true definition of celiac disease and to familiarize people with the seriousness of this illness. This blog is my platform to share my story with this medical condition. My aim is to highlight the fact that having celiac is a lifelong journey that goes far beyond bread and cookies. My ultimate goal is to reveal the impact of the disease on one’s lifestyle and to uncover the concealed and invisible aspects of being celiac.

The exact cause of celiac disease is not known, but scientists have found that it is genetic, meaning that if someone in your family has celiac then you have a high percent chance of having it too (The Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Even though there is no known cause of this disease, scientists do know that in a person without celiac the

Celiac disease is seen in about 1-2% of the population, with a 2:1 woman to men ratio (Lisa Ring Jacobsson, 2011). I choose this topic because celiac disease and gluten-free diets seem to be on the rise. In the past, the diet and lifestyle changes for people with celiac disease was very challenging, but in recent years there has been an increase in the amount of people being diagnosed with celiac disease. There is much more information out there about these special diets. Life has become much easier for those with celiac

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by ingestion, of gluten-containing foods. The disease results from inappropriate T cells immune response against gliadin in genetically predisposed people. Individuals with this disorder have high levels of antibodies to a variety of antigens. The resulting immune response produces a strong inflammatory reaction that results in loss of absorptive villi from the small intestine. After the subsequent lesions are widespread, they may weaken absorption of macronutrients and micronutrients. Small bowel involvement

Life changing, life long, no cure! This paper is to give knowledge and inform readers on what Celiac Disease is, who it effects, what it affects, and try to explain how it can interrupt a normal, life style to where most of us take for granted. Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you found out you could not eat normal everyday foods that most of us take for granted? What if one day you woke up and found out you could not eat something as simple and as popular as pizza? That you could not eat bread, cake, cookies, lasagna, spaghetti, or even drink beer? That every time you did, you would get sick. Well, for a growing percentage of Americans, that is what is

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune digestive disorder that damages the hair-like structures (villi) on the lining of the small intestine. This hampers the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream and leads to malnourishment. Celiac disease is the world’s most common genetic autoimmune disorder, affecting three million Americans, or about 1 in 141 people.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system is responsible for the ill symptoms by attacking the body’s cells. This is different from an allergy, in that basophils and eosinophil are specifically responsible for allergic responses (Celiac Disease Foundation). When an individual with coeliac disease consumes wheat, barley, or rye [which contain the protein gluten]; it triggers the immune system to attack the body. The small intestine is usually a main target; specifically the villi, which are finger-like projections that line the small

Celiac disease, which is also called coeliac disease, is a genetic autoimmune disease that injures the small intestine. Gluten is a protein that is in some wheat, barley, and rye. It is also a new fad diet and being gluten intolerant is something a majority of the population may claim. However, for those who really have celiac disease it is more serious. In fact, "Despite popular belief, celiac disease is a serious genetic autoimmune disease, not the latest fad diet", according to the organization Beyond Celiac(What is Celiac Disease, 2016). This article also gives a great explanation about what gluten does to the small intestine on a cellular level. The definition on the webpage goes on to include "When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the finger-like villi of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment" (What is Celiac Disease, 2016). It also mentions that when celiac is left untreated, other autoimmune diseases are very common such as thyroid disease, osteoporosis and other cancers. Migraines, diabetes, and infertility are a few more illnesses that go hand in hand with celiac. (What is Celiac Disease, 2016).

There have been no known causes found for Celiac disease. There are many conditions that put someone at an increased risk for developing celiac disease. Sometimes celiac cases can be brought out by infections, child bearing, or emotional changes. If a family member has the disease it will increase the chances of other members of the family having celiac disease. Diabetes can also be a risk factor for developing the

Celiac disease (CD) is defined as a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by small intestine mucosal damage in response to the ingestion of dietary gluten (proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye) in genetically predisposed individuals that improves with strict adherence to a gluten-free diet (Kelly, et al., 2015; Woodward, 2016; Meyer & Rosenblum, 2016; Isaac, et al. 2016; & Hill, 2016). Ludvigsson, et al. (2013) explain that while the symptoms of celiac disease have been described in medical literature for over 100 years, it was not until the 1940s that Dutch physician Dicke made the association of gluten exposure to the symptoms now associated with CD (p. 43). This paper will explore characteristics of the disease, as well as the current treatments and role of the primary care provider in caring for afflicted children.

Celiac disease can effect a person at any age, however the onset is most common in children and adults. Depending on the length of duration a child is breastfed and the quantity of gluten in their diet, children can be predisposed to celiac disease. Adults normal begin to see the onset of the disease around the age of 30, but stress, surgery or childbirth can cause the onset to be sooner. (Gaur et al, 2013, para. 2) Though there are many gene mutations linked to celiac disease, it’s the combination of these genetic mutations and diet of a specific individual that creates the onset. (Gaur et al, 2013, para. 3) Onset of celiac disease can cause symptoms such as the following: diarrhea, abdominal cramping, pain and distension. In infants there can also be symptoms of failure

When one with celiac disease ingests gluten, one’s body creates an automatic response that attacks the small intestine. Those attacks lead to destruction of the villi. Villi are fingerlike projections that help the body absorb nutrients and are line the small intestine. When the villi are destroyed, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly, which can lead to nutrient depletion in the body. Celiac disease mainly affects genetically predisposed people, meaning the disease is hereditary. (What is Celiac Disease, 1) “People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease” (What is Celiac Disease, 1). Studies have shown that the disease affects only 1% of the United States population, and 97% of those who have it are undiagnosed (Bryan, 11). Those who are undiagnosed also have a greater risk of developing another autoimmune disorder (What is Celiac Disease,

Coeliac disease, also called celiac disease or sprue, is an autoimmune enteropathy of the duodenum caused by the ingestion of gluten by those having a genetic predisposition. It is estimated to affect about 1% of the population, but this value may vary regionally and based on the diagnostic testing used (Biagi, et al., 2010). Variations in the gens expressing human leukocyte antigens DQ2 and DQ8 are strongly associated with the disease and while these variations do not necessarily lead to coeliac disease, there are essentially no cases of coeliac disease without these variations. In the duodenum, gluten molecules may trigger an immune response leading to inflammation and the subsequent destruction of the villous lining of

Celiac disease is an enteropathy mediated by an autoimmune response to gluten, a protein complex found in the endosperm of wheat, barley, and rye.1 The immune response is triggered by both environmental and genetic factors in individuals susceptible to the disease resulting in elevated levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (tTG), duodenal mucosal villi atrophy, and the inability of tight junctions to properly act as a barrier between the gastrointestinal tract and the systemic portion of the body.1

I am writing about celiac disease because I believe my friend had celiac disease but she did not know that she had it. Based on my research I know that celiac disease causes Flammation on muscles. I came to this conclusion after hearing her story. She was a violinist but freshmen year of college she got an injury on her arms. This injury made it hard for her to play violin again because she experience so much pain on her arm and fingers. So she decided to talk to people and continue with a therapy. Then one of her friend who is married to a doctor told her to stop eating gluten food and start gluten free food. She took the advice and started eating gluten free food. One first week of this new diet, did not do anything. She did not give up,