20 things to know about celiac disease

 

20 things to know about celiac disease

One out of every 100 people in the world suffer from celiac disease. This serious autoimmune disorder affects a person’s diet—more specifically, their ability to ingest gluten.

What are the symptoms of the disease? How is it treated? Which foods are to be avoided, and which ones are recommended for people with celiac disease? Read on to find out.

What is celiac disease?

A person with celiac disease should not consume food containing gluten—when they do, their immune system reacts abnormally and attacks the interior wall of the small intestine.

Over time, it becomes more and more difficult for the small intestine to absorb nutrients like calcium, iron, proteins, and vitamin D. The person then becomes susceptible to malnutrition, anemia, and other health problems, such as infertility and some types of cancers.

Which foods contain gluten?

Gluten is a sticky, elastic protein. In some types of foods, it allows the various ingredients to stick together, just like the glue you would use in arts and crafts.

Gluten is found in wheat, kamut, barley, and rye, and in many other products we consume every day like bread, cookies, cereal, pasta, beer, and breaded foods.

Is celiac disease hereditary?

Celiac disease is hereditary. People who have a parent, a child, or a sibling with the disorder are up to 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with celiac disease, according to a 2005 American study.

Who is most at risk of contracting celiac disease?

Aside from heredity, there are other risk factors for celiac disease. For example, people with type 1 diabetes are up to 6 percent more likely to have celiac disease as well.

People with rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune diseases (particularly thyroid disease), Down syndrome, and Addison’s disease also have an increased risk of developing celiac disease.

Who is most at risk of contracting celiac disease?

Aside from heredity, there are other risk factors for celiac disease. For example, people with type 1 diabetes are up to 6 percent more likely to have celiac disease as well.

People with rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune diseases (particularly thyroid disease), Down syndrome, and Addison’s disease also have an increased risk of developing celiac disease.

Is there a cure for celiac disease?

Unfortunately, there is still no definitive cure for celiac disease. In most cases, doctors recommend that patients follow a gluten-free diet.

In the first few days of the new diet, the patient should notice an improvement in their health. Symptoms disappear progressively, as does the inflammation in the intestine.

Patience is key, though—it can sometimes take several years to make a full recovery.

What are some other treatments of celiac disease?

In addition to a gluten-free diet, a person with celiac disease can take vitamin and mineral supplements, as long as they are gluten-free and recommended by a health professional. These supplements may be prescribed in the case of a deficiency.

It’s also recommended to drink lots of water.

Is it okay to “cheat” on your gluten-free diet when you have celiac disease?

If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you should never cheat. Even eating a small amount of food that contains gluten can make the disease flare up.

You may not notice symptoms right away, but your small intestine could suffer more damage.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Diarrhea

Having diarrhea does not necessarily mean you have celiac disease. However, if you’ve noticed that you almost always have diarrhea after eating food that contains gluten, you may have celiac disease, especially if your stools are pale, soft, sticky, abundant, and particularly smelly.

In all of these cases, you should consult a doctor. In the long term, diarrhea will dehydrate the body.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Fatigue

Like many other illnesses, celiac disease causes fatigue. In fact, it’s one of the most common symptoms, caused by the small intestine having difficulty absorbing nutrients, and by anemia (an iron deficiency)—both of which are effects of celiac disease.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Weight loss

You should always consult a doctor about any unexplained weight loss. In the case of celiac disease, weight loss is caused by a deficiency in vitamins and minerals.

On the other hand, some people with celiac disease gain weight, but this is quite rare.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain occurs frequently in people with celiac disease. These cramps usually begin shortly after the consumption of food containing gluten.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Gas

It’s completely normal to have gas, especially after drinking a carbonated beverage, for example. What’s not normal is having a lot of gas, or having gas all the time.

In the case of celiac disease, gas usually appears after the consumption of foods with high gluten content.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Constipation

Suffering from chronic constipation is a daily reality for many patients with celiac disease, who have difficulty with their bowel movements and sometimes go several days without going to the bathroom.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Swollen legs

Some people with celiac disease experience swelling in the legs, which is caused by a lack of proteins in the body.

If the nervous system is affected, the patient will experience numbness in the hands and feet, and may have trouble maintaining balance.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Itching

About 15 to 25 percent of people who have celiac disease develop dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin problem that is sometimes mistaken for eczema. This condition causes itching, lesions, small blisters filled with water, and a burning sensation on the elbows, the nape of the neck, and other parts of the body. The intensity of these symptoms can sometimes cause insomnia.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Sore bones

Some patients with celiac disease experience pain in their bones and joints. The calcium deficiency caused by the disease leads to a softening of the bones and a loss of bone density (osteoporosis).

Symptoms of celiac disease: Mouth ulcers

The mouth is not exempt from the many effects of celiac disease on the body. Dryness and ulcers in the mouth are the most frequently cited oral health problems.

Symptoms of celiac disease: Irritability and depression

Living with celiac disease is no walk in the park, especially when it’s undiagnosed. Some patients experience irritability, anxiety, and even depression. These symptoms usually subside after patients adopt a gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease: What to eat?

Many products available at the grocery store can easily be substituted for wheat, kamut, barley, and rye. Try rice, soy, corn, potatoes, buckwheat, quinoa, and most pulses.

But watch out—although these foods do not contain gluten, they may have been contaminated during harvesting, processing, or packaging. That’s what is referred to as cross-contamination.

To avoid taking any risks, opt for products that have been certified gluten-free. When you go out to eat in a restaurant, call ahead to make sure the kitchen can make arrangements for customers with celiac disease.