Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.
Celiac is not an Allergy to Wheat!
Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue,Coeliac Disease, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy.
Roughly one out of every 133 Americans has celiac disease, but 97% remain undiagnosed. This means that almost three million Americans have celiac disease and only about 100,000 know they have it.
3 million Americans are suffering from Celiac Disease and do not know it. Their medley of symptoms are often misdiagnosed or discounted as a mystery disease. They are absent from work and from class. Lack of diagnosis takes a toll on our schools and economy.
Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the fingerlike villi of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment.
If you have a family member with Celiac, there is a 1 in 20 chance that someone else in your family will also have CD, and the numbers are similar for Type 1 diabetes. In my large English/Irish/ a little bit of everything background, we definately have a few Celiacs.
Researchers have determined that celiac disease is a genetic condition, meaning that it is inherited. In some cases, celiac becomes active or is triggered by events such as surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.
In my case, My Maternal Grandmother and my Aunt (Godmother)Molly also are Celiacs.My brother suffered from Gastroparesis for 6 months when he was a Senior in HS....there is a pretty good chance he could have or will show symptoms of CD, but at the moment he doesnt want to even think about that. :)
My Grandmother was diagnosed later in life, she was nearly 60, and it seemed to follow a pretty serious bicycle accident that may have triggered it. I have never felt well since Freshman year when I had Mono.......I personally think that virus was the trigger that brought out the dormant disease.My Aunt Molly did not have a formal test, but she began a gluten free diet and she feels so good that she just "knows" and she would not have gluten for anything right now. Feeling good FEELS GOOD!
There are so many medical problems that are associated with undiagnosed celiac disease including cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes Type 1, thyroid problems and reproductive health issues.
The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, it can cause life-threatening complications. A delayed diagnosis or not living on a gluten free diet puts you at risk for developing other conditions such as , fractures, certain types of intestinal cancer, or other autoimmune disorders,infertility, miscarriages, and osteoporosis, to name a few.
The disease is hard to diagnose since the symtoms can appear so different in everyone.Some of the common symptoms are~
gas, indigestion
Constipation
Lactose intolerance (common upon diagnosis, usually goes away following treatment)
Diarhhea
Stools that float, are foul smelling, or “fatty”
Other symptoms may include
Bone and joint pain
Anemia
osteoporosis
Breathlessness (due to anemia)
Bruising easily
Dental enamel defects and discoloration
Growth delay in children
Fatigue
Depression
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Hair loss
Irritability and behavioral changes
Malnutrition
Muscle cramps
canker sores
Sore throat
Seizures
Short stature, unexplained
Swelling, general or abdominal
Skin disorders (dermatitis herpetiformis)
Vitamin or mineral deficiency, single or multiple nutrient (for example, iron, folate, vitamin K)
Exams and Tests
A Blood Test(CBC) may indicate anemia. It is important to determine the cause if anemia is detected. An elevated alkaline phosphatase level may indicate bone loss, which is commonly experienced before diagnosis. Low cholesterol and albumin levels may reflect malabsorbtion and malnutrition. Mildly elevated liver enzymes and abnormal blood clotting may also be noted.
There are several antibody blood tests that are useful in screening. A panel consisting of antiendomysial antibody (IgA), antitransglutaminase (IgA), antigliadin (IgA and IgG), and total serum IgA is typically ordered. Combined, these antibodies provide a sensitive and specific indicator for the presence of celiac disease.
An endoscopy(EGD) with small bowel biopsy , will show an abnormal intestinal lining (flattening of the villi).
A follow-up biopsy or blood work may be ordered several months after the diagnosis and treatment. These serve as a final confirmation of Celiac Disease. Normal results mean the patient has responded to treatment, thereby confirming the diagnosis. However, this does not suggest that the disease has been cured. Ongoing treatment for celiac disease is a life long gluten free diet .
Treatment
You must follow a life-long gluten-free diet. This allows the intestinal villi to heal. Foods, beverages, and medications that contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats should be eliminated completely. You must read food and medication labels carefully to look for hidden sources of these grains and their derivatives. Since wheat and barley grains are found abundantly in the American diet, keeping to this diet is challenging.
You should NOT begin the gluten-free diet before a diagnosis is made. If you do this, you may alter future testing for the disease. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Upon diagnosis, seek consultation from a registered dietitian with a specialty in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. A support group may also help you cope with this disease and diet. I immediately joined the Columbus Ohio Group. The Gluten Free gang.
In Philadelphia they are doing clinical trials on a pill for Celiacs, that they may possibly take if they want to eat a meal containing gluten. I am thinking its something like Beano..but for gluten intolerance. Anyway, its very interesting, its copyrighted so I will refer you to the channel 6 in Philly station to read the story or watch the video.....This would be so wonderful if it works........
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/health&id=5950129