Everything you Need to Know about Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a disease or a problem that some people have with the foods containing gluten. Gluten is a type of a protein which is found in foods like barley, grains wheat, triticale and rye.  If you have this disease and you eat gluten, then the gluten triggers the immune response which is not natural or normal.

In such a case the immune system works against the body and not for it. It tends to damage the inside part of the small intestine and thus prevents it from doing the good job of absorbing nutrients from your food.  Celiac disease can lead to anemia; osteoporosis and can also increase the risk of lymphoma.  Let’s get to know more about celiac disease.

know about celiac disease

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

  • One of the most common symptoms of celiac disease is that it leads to gas and bloating.
  • Due to celiac disease, one may also experience changes in bowel movements.
  • A sudden and unexpected weight loss is also a sign of celiac disease.
  • Feeling tired and fatigue all the time can also be a sign of celiac disease. One may also experience an unexplained weakness which too is a symptom.
  • The above mentioned symptoms are mild ones but in some cases, people may also vomit out the food containing gluten after consuming it. This is more common among children than adults.

Dangers of Celiac Disease

As mentioned above, celiac disease can lead to severe problems like anemia, osteoporosis and lymphoma. Besides this, this disease can also slow the growth of bones or weaken them in the case of children. If it is not treated on time, it can also make your child very sick. If you see that your child is losing weight rapidly or is fatigued all the time, then you must consult your doctor right away.  Even after a lot of research, the causes of celiac disease are still unclear and unknown to doctors.  But in most cases, the causes are related to genes.

Diagnosis and Treatment

For diagnosis, your doctor will first ask you about the symptoms and may then order a blood test to see if you have certain antibodies that could had led to the disease. You may also have to get an endoscopy done. This is a test in which doctors use a lighted thin tube to look inside your small intestine. The doctor may also take small samples of the tissue and test it in the lab. This process is known as biopsy.

In some cases, celiac disease is mistaken for other problems of food intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome.  After the diagnosis of this disease, your doctor may conduct other tests to see if you have any other consequence diseases like anemia and osteoporosis etc.

For treatment you must avoid all foods containing gluten.  The doctor may suggest you a dietician who may suggest you a good gluten free diet.  Avoid all foods containing wheat, rye, barley and others.