Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition which attacks your gut system when you eat gluten. Basically, it is a condition of major intolerance to gluten – a protein primarily found in a wide range of grains like wheat, barley, rye etc. This protein does not offer any necessary nutrients and people with celiac condition can get heavily triggered by it. Over time this trigger damages the internal lining of the small intestine and does not allow you to absorb nutrients, leading to malabsorption. This blog dwells on the causes of celiac disease in adults.
How is celiac disease in adults caused?
Let us directly dive into understanding the causes of celiac disease. While the exact cause of celiac disease is not well defined, medical science has effectively four primary triggers or causes of celiac disease in adults as well as children, which are discussed below -
- Genetics – Research and study shows that one of the primary causes of celiac disease is genetic mutation. This means this autoimmune condition is passed on to an individual through family lines. However, note that the presence of the concerned genetic mutation does not necessarily imply that the individual will develop celiac disease or vice-versa.
- Physical stressful event – While there is no definitive or precise pattern to this, sometimes major physical stress can also be the cause of celiac disease in adults. Physically straining events like major surgery, a major illness or even pregnancy can cause celiac disease.
- Gastrointestinal infections – This is a common but again a highly non-definite cause of celiac disease. In several cases of gastrointestinal infections, the affected person has been found to develop the celiac condition. It is non-definite in the sense, that gastrointestinal infections can vary well lead to celiac disease and in many cases, it may not.
- Bacteria in the gut – Some studies and observations have indicated that sometimes celiac disease may be caused by the bacteria, or the microorganisms present in the gut. Their presence may trigger an avid intolerance against gluten and may cause celiac disease.
Conclusion
While these causes of celiac disease are not precise, the above discussion will help you gain a fair understanding of what are the causes of celiac disease in adults. This will however make you prepared to understand what treatment you should avail of in case you develop celiac disease. Having a suitable health insurance plan can help cover the costs of diagnostic tests, dietary consultations, and ongoing treatments, ensuring that managing celiac disease is both accessible and affordable.
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