What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is the name attached to the body's autoimmune reaction to gluten, which wears away the lining of the small intestine. Gluten, the cause of the disease, is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Is this disease new?
No. It has always existed but, in the past, it was rarely tested for and rarely diagnosed. In the last few years, publicity about celiac disease has increased and so have the diagnosed cases. Celiac disease, which was once considered rare, is now known to effect one in every 133 people in the United States. Most cases are still undiagnosed and many people are walking around with the disease but don't realize that they have it.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of celiac include diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gas, bloating, weight loss or gain, chronic fatigue, headaches, anemia, psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and anger-control problems, sleep difficulties and a painful, itchy rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
Is the disease hard to diagnose?
Yes. The disease can be hard to identify because the symptoms vary so widely from person to person. Not every person has the same symptoms and not all the symptoms appear in each person who has the disease. In addition, many physicians aren't well informed about the disease making a diagnosis that much harder.
How can I know if I have the disease?
If you suspect that you may have celiac disease, see your doctor. Ask for a group of blood tests called a full celiac panel and a referral to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist should perform a biopsy of your small intestine for definite determination of the existence of the disease.
Celiac disease is the name attached to the body's autoimmune reaction to gluten, which wears away the lining of the small intestine. Gluten, the cause of the disease, is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Is this disease new?
No. It has always existed but, in the past, it was rarely tested for and rarely diagnosed. In the last few years, publicity about celiac disease has increased and so have the diagnosed cases. Celiac disease, which was once considered rare, is now known to effect one in every 133 people in the United States. Most cases are still undiagnosed and many people are walking around with the disease but don't realize that they have it.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of celiac include diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gas, bloating, weight loss or gain, chronic fatigue, headaches, anemia, psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and anger-control problems, sleep difficulties and a painful, itchy rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
Is the disease hard to diagnose?
Yes. The disease can be hard to identify because the symptoms vary so widely from person to person. Not every person has the same symptoms and not all the symptoms appear in each person who has the disease. In addition, many physicians aren't well informed about the disease making a diagnosis that much harder.
How can I know if I have the disease?
If you suspect that you may have celiac disease, see your doctor. Ask for a group of blood tests called a full celiac panel and a referral to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist should perform a biopsy of your small intestine for definite determination of the existence of the disease.
