What is it?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly reacts to gluten as if it were a poison or allergy. Gluten is found in many things. In some cases, like mine, people with Celiac are not allergic to wheat in and of itself, but the enzyme from gluten, in other words, the way it reacts in the body. Gluten is actually a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, That may not sound like many things to avoid, but in reality, gluten is almost everywhere you turn. Traces of wheat are found in so many different ingredients, and many people are naive to believe that it isn't in their oats, beverages, cereals, salad dressings, even chapstick!
This disease is touchy, and sometimes has no outward symptoms. Since it is a genetic disease, relatives of those who have been diagnosed have an increased risk.
Celiac affects one in 133 people, although most have not been properly diagnosed. Often times it can take up to 5 years or more for symptoms to show up, and many people have it that don't know.
When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their immune system reacts by destroying the part of the small intestine that absorbs vital nutrients. This malabsorption can lead to serious illness.
Symptoms of celiac disease can include bloating, gas, diarrhea, weight loss or gain, constant fatigue or weakness, headaches, infertility, depression that does not respond to medication, abdominal pain, mood swings, pulsing in hands and feet, swelling, bone pain and anemia. For children, symptoms include failure to thrive, distended abdomen, dental enamel defects, short stature, and unusual behavior changes.
Diagnosis is made through a series of blood tests, followed by a biopsy of the small bowel to see if the absorbing lining is damaged.
The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow the gluten-free diet. When gluten is taken out of the diet, the small intestine heals and a return to full health can be expected. Long-term complications of undiagnosed celiac disease include malnutrition, lymphoma, osteoporosis, neurological complications and miscarriage.
There is also a skin form of celiac disease called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) which appears as an itchy, blistering rash. It is diagnosed through a special skin biopsy and is also treated with the gluten-free diet.
This material is not intended to provide medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician.
