Celiac Disease
Definition:
Celiac disease is a medical condition that affects both children and adults. It occurs when a person cannot tolerate a protein found in wheat called gluten. When someone with celiac disease eats foods containing gluten, it can cause serious health problems, including digestive issues.
Symptoms:
Some common symptoms of celiac disease include: - Diarrhea that can have a foul smell - Stomach pain or cramps - Weight loss (sometimes leading to a very thin appearance, known as emaciation) - Fatigue - It can also lead to lactose intolerance, making it hard to digest dairy products.
Usage Instructions:
- You can use "celiac disease" when talking about health, diet, or medical conditions. - For example, you might say, "My friend has celiac disease, so she cannot eat bread or pasta."
Example Sentence:
"After years of stomach problems, she was finally diagnosed with celiac disease and learned to avoid gluten in her diet."
Advanced Usage:
When discussing celiac disease in a more advanced way, you might explain it as an autoimmune disorder. This means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues when gluten is consumed.
Word Variants:
- "Celiac" (adjective): Relating to celiac disease. For example, "celiac diet" refers to a diet that does not include gluten. - "Celiac sprue": Another name for celiac disease.
Different Meaning:
The word "celiac" can also refer to the celiac artery, which is a major blood vessel in the body. However, in most contexts, especially in health discussions, it refers to celiac disease.
Synonyms:
There are no direct synonyms for "celiac disease," but you might hear terms like "gluten intolerance" or "gluten sensitivity," which refer to similar conditions but may not have the same serious health implications.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with celiac disease, but you might use phrases like "cut out gluten" or "go gluten-free" to describe the actions taken to manage the condition.
Summary:
Celiac disease is a serious condition that requires careful management of one's diet to avoid gluten, which is found in many common foods.