Have you seen all of the new gluten free products that are on the market? Of course, you have! But what is the reason behind them all? Well, it turns out that many people are sensitive, allergic, or intolerant to gluten, so they want to limit it or avoid it altogether when choosing the ingredients for their meals. Others, however, aren’t just allergic or intolerant to gluten, they are suffering from celiac disease.
Wait, what’s the difference? Well, if you have a sensitivity or an intolerance to gluten, there isn’t any damage being caused to the small intestine’s lining. However, when you do have celiac disease, there is damage caused to the small intestine.
What is this disease all about, and what are its signs and symptoms? We cover it all below so that you can begin to understand it better. Just bear in mind that only a doctor can diagnose you with celiac disease, so if you are experiencing its symptoms, be sure to see a medical professional about it.
What Is Celiac Disease?
This is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.
Anyone of any age can have this disease, and the sooner it has been diagnosed the better. This is because it can lead to severe damage to the intestines and sometimes the liver. In the most severe and rare cases, intestinal cancer can occur.
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley, and rye. Traces of gluten are found in most processed foods. Products that don’t contain gluten generally say “gluten-free”. If it does contain gluten it should be listed on the allergy warnings at the bottom of the ingredients.
What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?
Different age groups and genders typically produce different symptoms. In children, gender doesn’t matter.
The symptoms of commonly present themselves as:
- Decreased appetite, stunted growth, and failure to gain weight
- Chronic diarrhea (blood is not uncommon)
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Possible malnourishment
In adults, the symptoms include:
- Iron deficiency
- Bone pain, bone loss, or osteoporosis
- Tingling or numbness
- Seizures
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Mouth sores
- In women, erratic menstrual periods
When symptoms go untreated, the damage increases, and most of the damage is irreversible.
How Is This Disease Diagnosed?
According to Mayo Clinic, there are a couple of blood tests that your doctor might prescribe if he or she is trying to determine if you are suffering from celiac disease.
Your doctor might prescribe genetic testing to check for human leukocyte antigens, or you might be told that serology testing is necessary, as it will be able to check for higher than normal levels of specific antibody proteins that would point towards your immune system reacting to gluten.
Other tests might be necessary as well. For example, your doctor might perform an endoscopy to check your small intestine with a camera and perform a biopsy to check if there is any damage. This type of test might only be ordered if the blood tests show abnormalities and indicate you might have celiac disease.
Note: no matter what, don’t go to the doctor after you have already eliminated gluten from your diet. If you have not been eating gluten and you are tested, you might not get accurate results. After all, you need to eat gluten to see how your body reacts to it in order to determine if you have this disease.
What Treatments Are Available?
The course of treatment will depend on how early or late the disease is caught and treated, and how much irreparable damage is present. Some people with a hypersensitivity to gluten have little to no symptoms because they are still able to absorb some of the nutrients, but still have extensive damage.
Most treatments include a gluten free diet, an anti inflammatory, and possibly an iron supplement. When it comes to following a gluten free diet, make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions to help ensure you are getting the right balance of nutrients daily.
Thinking About Going Gluten Free? See Your Doctor First!
It is important if you suspect you have celiac disease to talk to your doctor before going gluten free. If you go gluten free before getting properly tested, your immune system may not be producing the antibodies your doctor is testing for. Feel free to cut any and all processed foods before you see your doctor as they aren’t good for you anyway but continue to eat as close to normal as possible.