Celiac disease is often confused with gluten intolerance, but there is the most appropriate therapy for each pathology.
Celiac disease is a widespread condition: according to the WHO (World Health Organization), 1% of the world’s population suffers from it. However, it is often confused with gluten intolerance. Despite the many similarities, the two problems are different and each requires specific treatment.
Celiac disease or gluten intolerance?
According to the Ministry of Health, celiac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by gluten intolerance. That is, a protein present in wheat, oats, barley, rye and their derivatives. However, gluten intolerance itself does not result in an autoimmune or allergic response.
Despite this, people with this condition experience symptoms similar to celiac disease after eating gluten, but without the immunological markers or intestinal damage associated with celiac disease. These signs often include abdominal pain and/or bloating, bloating, excessive bloating, weight loss, and diarrhea.
Impact on the brain and associated symptoms
But what some may not know is that the problem can also affect the central nervous system, causing inflammation in the brain region.
“Celiac disease is considered multisystem, so it can affect numerous regions of the body, including the brain. Among the main forms of neurological manifestations of the disease are headache, peripheral neuropathy and ataxia,” explains Dr. Marcelo Valadares , neurosurgeon and researcher in the discipline of Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Unicamp and the Albert Einstein Hospital.
In other words, in addition to intestinal problems, it can also cause celiac disease in some specific cases heachachelack of coordination and changes in sensitivity to touch, temperature and force.
“Contact with gluten triggers a systemic response with the production of inflammatory irradiators that cause, for example, headache symptoms,” explains the neurosurgeon.
Treatment
According to the expert, there is still no cure for the problem and the only treatment available for people with celiac disease, until today, it involves the complete elimination of foods containing gluten from the diet.
It is therefore essential to pay attention not only to intestinal symptoms, but also to any neurological problems. The recommendation is that when any type of discomfort is noticed, the individual seeks careful medical evaluation.
Treatment of gluten intolerance involves reducing or eliminating gluten from the diet, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
