The Facts About Celiac's Disease

Receiving a diagnosis of celiac disease can be difficult because of the sudden changes you have to undergo with your diet and lifestyle, however, this can be the first step toward finding relief from your chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.

Celiac disease describes a condition where the body's immune system has a reaction when exposed to gluten-containing foods. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, and is often present in food and other consumable products.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that triggers an immune response in the small intestine when someone with the disease consumes food or any other product containing gluten.

Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to serious health complications as it damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents the body from fully absorbing nutrients from food, a symptom known as malabsorption.

In addition to other symptoms, malabsorption poses a particular risk to children because it can impact growth and development.

Adults and children tend to show different signs and symptoms of celiac disease.

Common celiac disease symptoms among adults include:

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Gassiness
• Nausea
• Pain in the abdomen
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

For most people, celiac disease revolves around digestive issues. However, a number of other conditions can signal that an individual has celiac disease. 

According to Mayo Clinic, these conditions include:

• Anemia
• Headache
• Loss of bone density or softening of bones
• Numbness/tingling in feet and hands, balance issues and cognitive impairment
• Painful joints
• Reduced spleen function
• Skin rash
• Ulcers in the mouth

In children, celiac disease can cause the same digestive symptoms seen in adults.

Additionally, malabsorption in children can lead to weight loss, anemia, failure to thrive for infants, developmental delays, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seizures, muscle coordination deficits, learning disabilities and more.

If you're experiencing symptoms and suspect you may have celiac disease, talk to your doctor right away.

Blood testing is necessary to determine whether you have celiac disease. The condition can be diagnosed with serology testing, which is a test that examines the blood for the presence of antibody proteins indicative of an immune reaction to gluten.

Genetic testing may be performed to determine if celiac disease can be ruled out so your doctor can determine whether your symptoms are the result of a different condition altogether.

Once you receive a celiac disease diagnosis, the next step likely includes an endoscopy procedure to assess the small intestine and any damage it may have sustained.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for celiac disease. The only way to avoid the adverse effects of the immune response caused by the disease is to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet indefinitely.

Sticking to a strict gluten-free diet requires some effort because gluten is found in popular ingredients such as wheat, barley and rye, as well as other foods you may not immediately recognize as containing gluten, including bulgur, durum, Graham flour, farina, malt, semolina, spelt and triticale.

It should also be noted that gluten should be avoided in nonfood products as well.

For instance, you should check the following products for gluten:

• Food starch
• Lipstick
• Medications
• Mouthwash
• Preservatives
• Toothpaste
• Vitamins and supplements

For many people, switching to a gluten-free diet can be difficult and cause feelings of stress and anxiety. This is totally normal. With time and experience, navigating this new approach to food can get easier. And the upside is it can help reduce your symptoms, promote healing in your small intestine and contribute to improved fertility in some individuals.

Your doctor may prescribe steroids in the event that your small intestine has been severely damaged by the disease, as steroids can mitigate severe symptoms of the disease while the small intestine goes about healing.

When celiac disease goes undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to a litany of long-term health effects.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, these effects include:

• Anemia
• Early onset osteoporosis (reduced bone density) or osteopenia (bone softening)
• Gallbladder malfunction
• Heart disease
• Infertility and miscarriage
• Lactose intolerance
• Liver failure
• Malnutrition
• Neurological symptoms, including ADHD, headaches, lack of muscle coordination, seizures, ataxia, dementia, neuropathy, myopathy and multifocal leukoencephalopathy
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Small intestine cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Understanding the signs and symptoms of celiac disease is an important step toward recognizing them in yourself or a loved one so you can seek medical help immediately and avoid long-term complications.

Detecting and treating celiac disease as early as possible is critical to preventing health complications. Additionally, it's vital to note that research indicates the older a person is by the time they are diagnosed, the more likely they are to develop another autoimmune disorder.

While following a strict gluten-free diet is presently the only effective treatment for celiac disease, that may not be the case forever. Researchers are investigating other potential treatments for celiac disease.

If you're interested in finding and participating in a clinical trial or study aimed at furthering this research—and, most importantly, one that's right for you and your situation—resources such as the Beyond Celiac organization can help you find that match and give you the next steps for how to participate

If you think you may have celiac disease, consult your doctor right away so you can undergo the necessary diagnostic tests.

Even if you only suspect that you have celiac disease, talk to your doctor before altering your diet because cutting out gluten before testing can alter the results.

There is no known way to prevent the development of celiac disease. However, symptoms and complications can be prevented by following a strict gluten-free diet and avoiding any other consumable products that contain gluten.

Living with celiac disease can make you feel isolated, frustrated, anxious and angry. And for good reason. Eating is something you can't simply stop doing, and so much everyday social interaction is centered around sharing meals that it's something you don't want to have to avoid.

When picking out a menu item begins to feel like walking through a field full of land mines, it's no surprise you may feel discouraged and defeated along the way.

One helpful tip is to keep an eye out for "Certified Gluten-Free" labels on packaged food to ensure it meets Food and Drug Administration regulations for celiac safety. Any other generic gluten-free label requires more research on your part to ensure the product is really going to be safe for you.

Phone apps allow you to research the celiac safety and gluten-free selections of restaurants ahead of time. Fortunately, with the rise of the internet and more awareness of the disease, there is a growing number of tips and tricks you can follow that might help you navigate your food choices.

Here are some useful online resources for patients and their caregivers:

• Celiac Disease Research News (Beyond Celiac organization)
• ClinicalTrials.gov
• Eating Out: 7 Tips for Staying Gluten-Free (Gluten Intolerance Group)
• How to Spot Those Sneaky Sources of Gluten (Cleveland Clinic)
• Gluten-free recipes (Celiac Disease Foundation)
• Go Beyond Celiac

What are four symptoms of celiac disease?

Four common symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, bloating, gas and abdomen pain.

How does a person get celiac disease?

The exact cause of celiac disease remains unknown, though experts believe it likely involves a combination of genetics and eating foods that contain gluten.

What foods trigger celiac disease?

An immune response is triggered in individuals with celiac disease when they consume foods or other products containing gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and other ingredients.