Celiac Disease

The Truth About Celiac Disease

People diagnosed with this condition probably already know all about it. However, for friends and family who do not understand, celiac disease is a condition affecting the digestive system. More specifically, eating foods with protein gluten triggers the condition. The truth about celiac disease is that no treatment exists and claims otherwise should be taken with caution and skepticism. The disease is also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

The disease can affect a person at any age. Children and adults alike have the chance to develop the disease. It is an autoimmune disorder, which targets the digestive system. As mentioned earlier, eating foods that are rich with gluten like cereal grains, bread, pasta, pizza crust, and even cookies triggers the disease. Any food made from wheat barley or rye most likely contains a good amount of gluten. After ingesting food with gluten, a reaction occurs in the small intestine, which causes damage to its inner lining.

The small intestine also becomes incapable of absorbing nutrients. This, of course, becomes problematic in the long run. The body does not absorb the necessary nutrients, which can result in other illnesses. The threat of nutrition deficiency is higher in children who have the disease.

The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown, but it passes down through families. If someone in your immediate family has it, chances are 5 percent to 15 percent that you may as well. It can occur at any age, although problems don't appear until gluten enters the diet.

The exact reason why gluten damages the intestinal lining is still unknown. Previously, the theory was the disease only affects Europeans. But recent studies show that celiac disease affects different people regardless of ethnic background. In the US, one in every 133 Americans have it. According to research, the disease is genetic in origin.

Since the signs and symptoms are not that apparent, a misdiagnosis confusing celiac disease with other allergic reactions is not only possible but also common.
People with the disease find themselves experiencing intermittent diarrhea, bloating, gastric ulcers, mouth sores, skin rash, anemia, upset stomach, joint pain and some abdominal pain. However, at times, people don't experience any kinds of digestive problems at all. Nevertheless, people with celiac disease suffer weight loss, diarrhea, stomach pains, foul smelling stools, and osteoporosis.

The disease may arise from different reasons. Sometimes, trauma, an infection, a physical injury, or the stress from pregnancy can cause the disease. There are some documented cases where severe stress or even surgery can trigger the disease.

Celiac disease has no treatment yet. Nonetheless, there are ways to combat the disease. The first line of defense is a gluten free diet. Avoiding foods with gluten will help prevent any inflammation of the small intestines. You can start taking nutritional supplements to help the malnutrition caused by the disease.

A gluten free diet includes eating the right amounts of fresh meat, fish and poultry, dairy products, fruits and of course vegetables. Your dietary options are not as limited as you might think. Rice and potatoes are also a good replacement for wheat products. Learning the truth about celiac disease is not scary. It is an opportunity to get to know the disease and the right way of living with it.


Fighting Celiac Disease

Fighting celiac disease is a lifelong battle. is by The ingestion of gluten triggers celiac disease and may result in vitamin, mineral, and nutritional deficiencies. Patients afflicted with this disease need to follow a rigid and lifelong diet. Fighting celiac disease is a very difficult task but it is not only the battle of the patient.

Gluten is a protein present in all forms of wheat, rye and barley. Persons with celiac disease eliminate all gluten from their diet. There is no cure for this disease but following gluten-free diet can manage it.

Symptoms of children with celiac disease may include growth failure, vomiting, bloated abdomen, and behavioral changes. While adults can experience recurring bloating or gas, chronic diarrhea or constipation, unexplained weight loss or gain, Vitamin K deficiency, fatigue, missed menstrual periods, canker sores in the mouth, and tooth discolorations or loss of enamel.

Fighting celiac disease or any disease starts with getting medical attention. Misdiagnosis confusing celiac disease with other sicknesses is common as are instances of the disease going undiagnosed. Getting professional attention is the best way to address any health and medical issue.

As with any illness, early detection through health and medical tests is the key to fighting celiac disease. There is about 5 to 15 percent chance that a person can have this disorder if it is present in their family history.

In some cases, celiac disease develops after trauma like stress, infection or childbirth. There is no telling when celiac disease may hit you. Therefore, consult a physician about any symptoms or abnormalities in your health.

A celiac patient's lifestyle is a very disciplined life. To manage their illness, celiac patients must stick to a gluten-free diet. Foods to avoid are breads, cereals, crackers, pasta, cookies, cakes and pies, gravies and sauces, unless they are gluten free.

To manage their difficult lifestyle, a local celiac support group can provide celiac patients advice and information. Support groups are any groups that meet regularly for mutual support in coping with a disease.

Every day can be a challenge, especially for newly diagnosed patients. Over time, however, managing celiac disease will become second nature. To cope with the disease and the difficulty of managing it, talking to people who know what you are going through is reassuring.

Look in your local community for celiac support groups. There may even be listings in the newspapers or in the internet. There are numerous websites and forums were celiac disease patients can visit to check out tips from patients and patient family members.

Aside from this, it is also advisable to contact or consult a dietician or nutritionist to assist the patient with a diet. There are creative ways to cook and prepare food for celiac patients without sacrificing their health. Gathering information about celiac disease will help the patient to know more about the illness and ways of fighting it.

Celiac disease, or any illness for that matter, is life changing. It changes not only the patient's life but also the lives of the people around the patient. Families and friends serve as core support of the celiac patients. Any support generated from the people around the patient serves as a lifeline. Fighting celiac disease, or any illness, should never be just the battle of one.

More on Celiac disease