Even if an individual is cautious about whatever he eats to maintain good health, at times, it may not be adequate, trying to prevent any health complications. Most of the doctors recommend their patients to use Pain Tracker, an application that helps to track body pain related to any physical injury or eating unhealthy food without following a proper diet plan. They can use this application with the help of an Android/iOS as well as the website as per the requirement.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease, in ancient times, derived from a Greek word ‘coeliac,’ now in medical term, it is called Coeliac/Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a long term disease that affects the small intestine. An abnormal immune response in the body causes due to the intake of gluten (a type of protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye, etc.) food.
This disease is quite more widespread among women than men as per few researchers claiming it to be. If ignored untreated, it causes gastrointestinal problems as well as high risk of having cancer in small intestine results in sudden death.
If an individual continues to consume gluten food, then it affects its health that further leads to many other health-related complications.
Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Some symptoms found in infants/children:
- Causing constipation
Improper timing of food, dehydration, also leads to the hardened stool that is difficult to pass results into illness.
2. Diarrhea
It is one of the gastrointestinal symptoms that cause loose, watery stool.
3. Steatorrhea
Pale, foul-smelling stool.
4. Bloating
Swelling in the belly
5. Other symptoms
It includes vomiting, gas, fatigue, joint pain, blood in the urine or stool, etc.
Many people mistakenly take celiac disease as a food allergy, which is not that case.
Few symptoms found in adults:
1. Anemia – Iron deficiency
Lack of iron content in the red blood cells.
2. Dermatitis herpetiformis
Itchy blistery rashes are called dermatitis herpetiformis.
3. Problems in the nervous system
It includes cognitive impairment as well as numbness in hands and feet.
4. Osteoporosis
Loss of bone density causes osteoporosis.
5. Hyposplenism
A decrease in the functioning of the spleen.
6. Other symptoms
Headache, fatigue, infertility, abdominal pain, depression, stress, weight loss, etc. are a few other symptoms.
It becomes a significant problem when the symptoms of this diseased surface after a specific time, which leads to further delay in treatment.
Diagnosis
Most of the people with celiac disease are not aware that they have it. It leads to delay in treatment having further health complications.
To diagnose this disease, doctors recommend conducting two tests:
1. Serology test – This test performs to look for antibodies in the human blood as well as checks the levels of antibody proteins that direct immune reaction to gluten.
2. Genetic analysis – test conducted for checking for human leukocyte antigens, i.e., HLA-DQ2 & HLA-DQ8. It helps to check if you are having celiac disease or not based on reports.
Causes of the disease
Celiac disease is due to the reaction of intake of gluten-rich food, i.e., glutenins (a protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye) and the oats (Aveneae tribe).
Many researchers believe that gluten food and other health factors contribute to celiac disease, but as of now, the leading cause is unknown.
The real problem of this disease is when our body’s immune system overreacts while taking gluten-rich food, this reaction damages villi – tiny fingerlike projection present in the small intestine. It helps in absorbing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. In case villi get affected due to this disease, no matter whatever one eats, it is not enough to have adequate nutrients in our body that leads to severe health complications.
Risk factors
Celiac disease happens to run in families (heredity). If any of the family members has this disease, there is a high chance for their children to have this health problem. In some cases, most people having this disease do not have any family history.
Some people who are likely to have celiac disease include:
1. Type 1 diabetes
2. Turner syndrome ( a health condition where the X chromosome is missing in a female)
3. Down syndrome ( a genetic disorder)
4. Rheumatoid arthritis.
Diet and Treatment
As of now, there is no proper treatment, except following a gluten-free diet. Many health institutes are still researching about the medications that help in curing small intestines, a therapy that improves immune system and vaccines for curing celiac disease.
However, the only treatment is to avoid gluten in your food. A strict diet plan from the concerned dietician will help in intestine healing as well as managing symptoms, but if one eats gluten food, then it may cause a relapse. There is a specific test conducted to those who are willing to continue gluten food, even replacing some of them with another type of food as per the instructions from the dietician.
Follow the regular diet and products that are gluten-free. Many people are willing to follow a gluten-free diet; they should consult the doctor’s advice.
Some food is safe to consume such as
1. Cereals (corn, millet, rice, sorghum) and
2. Non – grains (quinoa, bananas, topica, etc.) do not contain gluten.
Avoid eating food processed, including soy sauce, bread, gram flour, rye, canned meat, etc. that contain gluten.
Doctors recommend the following specific other treatment to reduce the symptoms from further health complications.
1. Endoscopy
This test conducted with the help of a tiny camera which enables the doctor to view small intestine and take a small tissue sample (biopsy) to analyze the damage of villi.
2. Medical Supplements
Doctors or dietician might recommend taking vitamin and mineral supplements in case of severe anemia or nutritional deficiencies. If the supplements are not working, doctors prefer to give an injection instead. Medications to control itchy rashes and intestinal inflammation, which helps to control any damage in the small intestine.
Many doctors find it useful to use the Pain Tracker application to know their patient’s health condition through pain tracking charts and reports. It also helps the patients to give day to day entry if they have any physical pain symptom. Visit the concerned doctor before taking a gluten-free diet and also regular checkup helps to know about the health condition before things get worse.
To read more on topics like this, check out the healthy category.