Do I Have Celiac Disease?
Are you experiencing symptoms of celiac disease? Learn more about the disorder, how it is diagnosed, and how patients get celiac disease.
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a relatively common autoimmune disorder. It is a disorder that is signified by gluten triggering an immune response in the body. Gluten is a type of protein found in grains. Celiac disease causes inflammation and damage to the small intestine due to the body’s response to gluten being consumed. This disease affects about 1% of the population. Most patients experience digestive issues and nutritional deficiencies as the main negative consequences of this disease. Most symptoms can be controlled with a gluten free diet.
What are common signs of celiac disease?
- Bloating is a common symptom of patients with celiac disease due to the inflammation of the digestive tract.
- Diarrhea is another common sign of celiac disease. 79% of patients reported that they experienced this symptom before being treated for the disorder.
- Gas is a digestive issue related to this disease as well. However, there can be many other causes of gas as well.
- Fatigue is a lesser known symptom. Some patients could also be more likely to have sleep disorders and vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to fatigue.
- Constipation is also experienced by some patients with celiac disease. Celiac disease affects the intestinal villi which absorb nutrients. When these are not working properly, it can lead to constipation.
- A sudden weight loss can also be a sign of celiac disease. Following a gluten free diet often helps these patients put on their lost weight relatively quickly.
- An itchy rash can also be associated with celiac disease. Dermatitis herpetiformis is when an itchy rash develops on the patient's body as a result of a gluten intolerance. These patients often don’t experience any gastrointestinal problems as well.
- Abdominal pain and nausea are more signs of celiac disease. If you are experiencing these symptoms, try to take note of when you are consuming gluten and how that affects your symptoms as well.
Speak with a specialist if you experience any of the following symptoms and think you may have celiac disease. A simple switch to a gluten free diet can help reduce many of these symptoms.
How do you get celiac disease?
There are multiple causes of celiac disease. Genetics play a large role in celiac disease diagnosis. The genes that cause celiac disease are carried by about one third of the population. About 10 to 20 percent of close relatives of patients with celiac disease are also affected. Patients also have to have eaten gluten to be diagnosed with celiac disease so eating foods with gluten is another cause. Gastrointestinal infections and gut bacteria may also contribute to patients developing the disorder. Celiac disease can also be triggered after a surgery, pregnancy, viral infection, or even after severe emotional stress.
What do I do if I have celiac disease?
It is important to see a specialist to be officially diagnosed with celiac disease. If patients are left untreated it may lead to malnutrition, infertitlity and miscarriage due to malabsorption, and nervosu symptom problems. While celiac disease is not curable, following a gluten free diet helps most patients live a healthy life free of gastrointestinal issues.
Learn more about celiac disease on Gastroenterology Center of Thousand Oaks website. To learn more about how a celiac disease specialist in Thousand Oaks can provide you with lasting relief, contact our team today to schedule an appointment!