Hey there! Gluten-free foodies and health enthusiasts! Today, I will be talking about a topic close to the hearts (and stomachs) of many: celiac disease. If you don’t know what it is, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine and can cause a range of digestive symptoms.
The first step obviously is to determine if you have it or not by getting a celiac disease test done. Once you are diagnosed, it is best to have a diet full of gluten-free foods in order to make your stomach feel better.
As for the symptoms and other questions related to celiac disease, let’s dig in and understand in detail what this disease is and how it can impact your life overall.
Table of Contents
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that causes a reaction in your body to the protein gluten. Gluten present in your digestive system triggers the immune system to produce antibodies against it.
These antibodies can damage the lining of the small intestine (mucosa). Now, the damage to the mucosa in the small intestine impairs its ability to absorb nutrients from food which causes nutritional deficiencies. This can also be found in a celiac disease test.
Gluten however is a protein that is found in grains, particularly barley, wheat, and rye. These grains, especially wheat, make up many of the staple goods that we consume like cereals, bread, and pasta. It also includes baked goods.
Besides that, gluten often is also a lot of times made part as an additive in food products where you wouldn’t expect to find it. It is present in a lot of sauces, packaged foods, and soups. So, try and stay away from all these and opt for a celiac disease diet.
Read about gluten-free diets to explore more.
How Does Celiac Disease Affect the Body?
Celiac disease affects the small intestine. This is where most of the nutrients from your food are absorbed, including proteins like gluten. But when you have celiac disease, gluten in your small intestine triggers an immune response. This can also be proved by a celiac disease test.
Your immune system sends cells (inflammatory cells) and antibodies to destroy the gluten molecules. These cells damage the mucous membrane lining your small intestine.
The mucosa that lines the small intestine is vast but is scrunched up into many folds and fingerlike projections called villi. If you stretch it all out, it will cover a tennis court. The folds and the projections increase the surface area to absorb as many nutrients as possible during digestion.
The worst part is that the immune cells triggered by celiac disease deteriorate and flatten these projections, diminishing the surface area.
What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?
Symptoms of celiac disease vary widely among people which can make it hard to recognize. Some people get to know they have the celiac disease after a celiac disease test. Dr. Bilal Bin Mukhtar who is one of the best gastroenterologists in Pakistan says, some people don’t notice any symptoms at all. Some experience indigestion and other gastrointestinal symptoms after having gluten.
Some people have vague symptoms of nutritional deficiencies later on when real damage is already done. In these people, symptoms of anemia may be the first to be prevented.
You might feel:
- Bloated stomach
- Constipation
- Gas
- Fatty stools
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
Symptoms of Anemia might include:
- Headaches
- Cold hands
- Weakness
- Brittle or concave nails
- Pale complexion
Some of the other symptoms include:
- Growth delays and failure to thrive in children
- Abnormal periods
- Low muscle tone
- Mood changes
- Extreme weight loss
Read maximum delay in periods to explore more.
How Does a Person Get Celiac Disease?
One of the theories is that it is triggered by some type of physical stress that overextends the immune system. Of course, a celiac disease test can help in finding out too. Healthcare providers at Doctors Hospital have observed that the disease often shows up after a physical event like an illness, pregnancy, severe emotional trauma, or surgery.
Another one of the theories states that the microorganisms living in the gut are involved. But still, more research needs to be done to explore these theories more.
How to Diagnose Celiac Disease?
Healthcare providers use two methods for testing celiac disease. they prefer to use both together in order to confirm the diagnosis. The first method is a blood test. A blood sample is taken for the gluten antibodies that damage your intestines. Then they look into further damage. This requires taking a small tissue from your small intestine (biopsy) to examine under the microscope as part of a celiac disease test.
To do that, gastroenterology will be performed. This procedure involves the insertion of a tiny camera through your body on the end of a long thin catheter.
Additional tests
After the confirmation of celiac disease, there are other tests that are recommended by doctors. These can be specific or can vary depending on the several deficiencies in the body like, vitamin deficiency anemia, and vitamin D deficiency test. You may also be low in electrolytes like calco=ium and might need an electrolyte test.
Read on Sunny D Tablet Uses to explore more.
How to Stick to a Celiac Disease Diet?
Avoiding gluten in all its forms can be very challenging at first after the celiac disease test is done. You will have to read labels and watch out for accidental contamination keeping in view your celiac disease diet. The good news is that there is an abundance of resources available to help you find the perfect diet for you. Your healthcare provider plays a very important role in that. Research says that a gluten-free diet makes the quality of life better for patients with celiac disease.
When to Contact Healthwire
Celiac disease is one such disease that is not discussed a lot. However, celiac disease tests can confirm it for you if you are having trouble digesting certain foods. If you are afraid, the best gastroenterologist near you can help you find the best diet and the best treatment in order to fight this autoimmune disease.
