HEALTHY LIVING RESULTS

Celiac disease is a hypersensitivity to gluten. Also called celiac sprue, nontroptical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac disease is characterized by an extreme immune system response to the consumption of gluten. The immune system reacts by attacking the cells of the small intestines.

This condition is often diagnosed in infancy and childhood, but may not be evident until later in life. The most common symptom of celiac disease in children is irritability. Other common symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Before the infant begins to eat food containing gluten, and it than with celiac disease may have normal digestion and growth. As foods containing gluten are added to the infant’s diet, the infant with celiac disease may experience diarrhea, projectile vomiting, a distended abdomen, irritability, poor weight gain, and poor growth.

Children with celiac disease may have poor appetite and poor growth. The symptoms of celiac disease may temporarily subside during adolescence and become problematic again in early adulthood.

There is no cure for celiac disease. Following a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease. It is often easier if the entire family goes on a gluten-free diet if a child is diagnosed with celiac disease. This prevents foods from having to be considered off limits to one child and removes temptation for the child.

Some parents of children with celiac disease experience anxiety about the child attending school. While attending school, the child is likely to come in contact with food that contains gluten in the school cafeteria and perhaps during student birthday celebrations or snack time.

The parents should discuss the child’s need for a gluten-free diet and the diagnosis of celiac disease with the school nurse, dietitian, and the child’s teacher. Some parents often find it helpful to discuss the child’s needs with the principal. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), schools must provide children with celiac disease gluten-free food.

Following a gluten-free diet throughout the child’s lifetime is imperative for limiting the damage to the small intestines. Foods that contain rye, wheat, or barley contain gluten. Other foods not associated with these grains may also contain gluten.

Parents of children with celiac disease need to educate the children on how to identify foods that contain gluten. Parents will need to show the child how to follow a gluten-free diet and how to read food labels to determine which foods contain gluten. Gradually, the parents may give more responsibility to the child to follow a gluten-free diet.

Asthma is a condition that causes constriction and inflammation of the airways. The primary cause of asthma is an overreaction of the immune system much in the same way that a allergic reactions are triggered.

Asthma can be triggered by a substance or condition that is harmless. The immune system mistakes the harmless substance as dangerous and releases histamine. The histamine causes the allergy symptoms.

Hypersensitive immune systems can be inherited. Inherited hypersensitivity of the immune system is called atopy. In families where there is atopy, there may be an extensive family history of eczema, allergies, and asthma.

When the person experiences a asthma symptoms, it is often referred to as an asthma attack. An asthma attack can be shared by the inhalation of an allergen or cold air.

Tightness in the chest, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath are common signs of asthma. Inflammation and constriction caused the asthma can be reduced with the use of that an asthma inhaler or other asthma medication.

Many people may be unaware that there are several different types of asthma. Nocturnal or nighttime asthma can make it difficult for the person to sleep continuously throughout the night. Nocturnal asthma most commonly causes coughing and wheezing.

Many people have asthma that is triggered by allergies. This type of asthma is sometimes referred to as allergic asthma. Allergies cause histamine to be released which triggers asthma symptoms.

Some people who asthma have a primary symptom of a persistent cough that can be severe. This type of asthma is sometimes called cough-variant asthma.

One common form of asthma is exercise-induced asthma. When a person exercises, their airways may narrow which can trigger an asthma attack. Wheezing and difficulty catching breath are typical symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.

Asthma symptoms may be more severe at night time or when the person has a cold or allergies. Some people with asthma experience no asthma symptoms unless they have a cold. A physician may prescribe the use of inhaler or nebulizer when the person has a cold.

One type of asthma medication is taken daily to prevent asthma attacks. The other type of asthma medication is typically sold in inhaler form and is used during an asthma attack to stop the symptoms.