Celiac Disease Essay

For example Celiac Disease, Celiac disease is a disorder caused by a sensitivity to gluten.

I was 7 years old and lying in bed trying to fall asleep, but, as usual, the constant, nagging pain in my stomach wouldn’t subside. I had thrown off my blankets in case I was too hot, I had tried falling asleep in different positions, and I had even gotten some antacids, but nothing was helping. Finally, I called for my parents and they came upstairs. As always, they asked me what my pain level was on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst; I said it was a 6.

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 seems to be on an up rise today. You now walk into grocery stores and restaurants and see gluten-free food everywhere. Thankfully, for the celiac disease community, life has become a little easier with these accommodations. When most people hear celiac disease many just think gluten-free diets, but they do not realize that celiac disease can affect all parts of the body and mind, or that the disease has a higher prevalence in women. It is a new lifestyle that many have to take on. In the next few pages, I will discuss the affects that this disease has on the body systems, the lifestyle changes many make when diagnosed with celiac disease, and the importance of educating those who are dealing with the disease on a day to day basis. I also will discuss information from two articles which focus in on the direct affects that the disease takes on women living with it, and the lifestyle changes that are necessary to manage the symptoms.

A report from Reuters states that draft guidelines presented by U.S. doctors say there isn’t enough evidence yet to prove that widespread screening for celiac disease is necessary.

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

Malnutrition. Untreated celiac disease can lead to malabsorption, which in turn can lead to malnutrition. This occurs in spite of what appears to be an adequate diet. Because vital nutrients are lost in

As a celiacs daughter I quickly adapted the “gluten free” life style out of convenience for my mother. I would even find myself going to restaurants asking for the gluten free menu and strictly sticking to the diet in and out of my household. I was aware that I was lacking some nutrients by not eating gluten but to make up for it I took vitamin D pills and everyday women health vitamins but little did I know that was not enough to keep me healthy. I was not aware of the risks I was putting myself at by eliminating a whole category of food. I was lacking my body of calcium, fibre and iron as well as other nutrients.

This is the cause of the illness of Celiac disease. 2. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation definition also known as the CDF, official disease foundation of 2018, “Celiac Disease is a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to the damage in the small intestine.” a. When people with disease eat gluten, their body reacts with an immune response that attacks the small intestines.

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 (CD) is marked by an inability to absorb gluten. Gluten, also known as glutenin, is a protein found in “wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and triticale” (Turner and Torkos). The problem with the disease is that it is an “autoimmune disorder in which the immune system responds to gluten by damaging the small intestine” (Turner and Torkos). This damage to the small intestine is “characterized by villous atrophy” in people who are “genetically susceptible” (Parnell and Ciclitira). The disorder may latent for years and then suddenly cause horrendous symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. There is danger in a misdiagnosis because many high fiber foods used to help control irritable bowel syndrome are gluten

Also, in some rare cases, surgery is required, life threatening bleeding, perforation of the intestine and inflammation of the abnormal cavity may occur. Other risk factors are inflammation of the joints, eyes, skin and/or liver, malnutrition and partial blocking of the bile ducts which carry bile from the liver to the intestine, however, there is much that can be done about all these complications. One risk and a major one is colon cancer. The risk of developing colon cancer increases when the disorder begins in the childhood, the disorder has been present for more then 8 years and when there is a history of colon cancer in the family. There have cases that colitis can become so severe that the removal of the colon had to be done. It affects everyone differently.

The amount of small intestine damaged due to a loss of villi determines the severity of symptoms due to the diseases. Severe signs and symptoms of malabsorption are evident in people whose small intestine is affected by a loss of villi (Marks). Therefore this explains the various problems a person with celiac disease encounters.