One out of every 133 people in the United States live with celiac disease (CD), and only recently has it caught on with the general public. Gluten intolerance can at times seem like such a common digestive disorder, it can go unrecognized and untreated for years!
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, similar to an allergic reaction to gluten, but not quite the same thing. When gluten is consumed by someone who has an intolerance to it, it can damage the hair-like lining inside of the small intestine that absorbs the nutrients from food, called villi. Over time the body stops absorbing necessary nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. If left untreated the small intestine can become permanently damaged, causing immune and nutritional disorders which can be potentially life threatening.
There are no known causes for CD but physical effects include intense rashes and blisters, commonly appearing on the face, elbows, knees and buttocks, called Dermatitis Herpitiformis (DH). This can only be confirmed with a skin biopsy by your doctor or a gastrointestinal specialist (GI). If you are scheduling an appointment to get it looked at make sure to cut all gluten from your diet for at least four weeks before the biopsy. Some more common symptoms are bloating of the stomach, chronic diarrhea or constipation, bone and joint pain, and mouth ulcers.
Celiac disease may appear at any point in a persons life. It is usually brought on by severe stress, pregnancy, childbirth, or after a surgery. There is no cure for celiac disease and can only be treated for the symptoms. If you suffer from CD, the biggest requirement is that you maintain a gluten-free diet. Medication for the problem has not been shown to improve health as much as a healthy gluten-free diet.
I recommend confirming with a good gastrointestinal specialist if you believe you may have celiac disease. He or she will issue specific blood tests and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis better than anyone else. After all, intestines are their specialty!
For further information on the topic please visit www.celiac.org.
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