Celiac disease affects about 3 million people in the US. So what do you need to know and do if you think you might be one of them? Gastroenterologist Ayanna Lewis, MD, director of IBD at Mount Sinai South Nassau and a member of the HealthyWomen Advisory Board, explained everything you need to know about this autoimmune condition.
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disease. It occurs when your immune system reacts to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
What happens when someone with celiac disease eats gluten?
If you have celiac disease and eat gluten, an immune response occurs in the small intestine, which can damage the lining of the small intestine. This can cause malabsorption, which means the body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs.
There is no cure for celiac disease, but it can be managed through dietary changes.
What are the causes of celiac disease?
Celiac disease runs in families. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people carry the genes that cause celiac disease, but only 1 in 100 of those people will develop it. If you do not carry two genetic markers for celiac disease (HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ), you are 99% unlikely to ever have the disease.
Who makes celiac disease?
Anyone of any age can get celiac disease. But as mentioned above, women are diagnosed more often than men.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Most of the symptoms of celiac disease are:
– Stomach ache,
– Diarrhea,
– A swollen abdomen (“celiac belly”),
– Gaze,
– Constipation,
– Nausea,
– Vomiting.
– “Celiac poo”, which is foul-smelling watery diarrhea.
Non-classic symptoms of celiac disease can also occur. These include:
– Fatigue,
– A rash that itches and blisters,
– Headaches.
Celiac disease in children
Celiac disease affects 1 in 300 children in America, and that number is rising at an alarming rate. for children with a parent or sibling who has the disease. Infants and young children may have various symptoms: vomiting, irritability, or poor growth, while school-aged children tend to have stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea. Older children and adolescents may experience chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain, skin rashes and even mood disorders, write the 123mama.ro.
What is the difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity?
Gluten intolerance can overlap with the symptoms of celiac disease. For example, if you are sensitive to gluten, you may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. You may be able to eat a certain amount of gluten before you experience symptoms. But a person with celiac disease will have a reaction after eating just a crumb of a food that contains gluten. Also, if you just have a gluten sensitivity, your symptoms will be related to how much gluten you ate and how long ago you ate it. For someone with celiac disease, symptoms can last for days, and inflammation can be seen in blood tests for weeks afterwards.
Are there medical complications associated with celiac disease?
Many patients wonder: can celiac disease kill you? The answer is that it can’t kill you outright, but it can lead to a number of serious health problems if left undiagnosed and untreated, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Not absorbing enough nutrients or malnutrition is a big risk if celiac disease is severe. If your body doesn’t get the nutrition it needs to keep you healthy, you can suffer from complications such as low red blood cells (called anaemia), softening of the bones, decreased spleen function, joint pain and nervous system problems such as numbness and tingling . in your body.
Can celiac disease cause blood in the stool?
Having blood in your stool is not a common symptom of celiac disease. If you have blood in your stool, be sure to tell your doctor right away so they can determine the cause.
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
Diagnosing celiac disease begins with blood tests. If your HCP sees signs of celiac disease in your blood tests, they will often order an endoscopy, which is a procedure where a small camera is used to allow the HCP to see your small intestine and take a tissue sample to see if it is damaged,
How is celiac disease treated?
If you are diagnosed with celiac disease, the only treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet. This means that you will have to be careful when choosing the food to prepare daily and when you go out to eat. The great news: There are many delicious and healthy foods you can still eat. Plus, you’ll feel relieved once gluten is out of your life for good. This is a win-win situation.
2023-08-04 06:22:15
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