Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a term that seems to be receiving an awful lot of attention in the media these days. Often called celiac sprue, celiac disease is a digestive disorder that can be lead to very serious complications if left untreated. Celiac disease causes damage to the small intestine, which can lead to malabsorption of vital nutrients into the body. Although the exact cause of celiac disease is not known, physicians who specialize in gastroenterology (ailments of the digestive system), do know that celiac disease causes damage to intestinal villi, which are important structures within the intestines that help to absorb nutrients.
People suffering from celiac disease cannot tolerate consumption of gluten, which is a mixture of plant proteins used in grains such as wheat, corn, rye, and barley. Believe it or not, the word 'gluten' derives from the Latin word for 'glue.' Aptly named, gluten is actually an adhesive, and it is this adhesive quality that makes this protein so difficult to digest. Gluten is used as a substitute for flour in many of the processed foods that make today's typical American diet so unhealthy. However, what many people, even some who suffer from celiac disease, don't know is that gluten is also used in many medications, vitamins, and even in such products as lip balm. (For this reason, if you suffer from celiac disease, it is vital that you receive treatment by a qualified GI doctor who can help you design a diet that avoids the consumption of any gluten-containing products and medications.) Following are some of the symptoms to look for, as well as steps to take, if you suspect you may be suffering from celiac disease.
Symptoms
The warning signs of celiac disease include many digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, decreased or even increased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lactose intolerance, foul-smelling or oily stools and unexplained weight loss. However, there are some symptoms of celiac disease that are not as obvious because they do not seem to be related to the digestive system. These can include depression, anxiety, fatigue, easy bruising, hair loss, missed menstrual periods, mouth sores, nosebleeds, itchy skin or rash, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and seizures. Symptoms in children can even include delayed growth or puberty, shorter-than-normal height for age, irritability, poor weight gain, and changes in tooth color or tooth enamel defects.
Treatment
There are tests that your gastro doctor can perform that will aid in the diagnosis of suspected celiac disease. In addition, there are treatments for celiac disease that can alleviate or even eliminate its accompanied symptoms.
Because so many foods in the typical American diet include products that contain gluten, the first step to treating celiac disease typically is for patients to learn these in order to follow a strict gluten-free diet. Foods, beverages, medications, and all other products containing gluten must be eliminated in order to prevent damage to intestinal villi. All patients who have been diagnosed with celiac disease must thoroughly read the labels provided on foods and drug in order avoid gluten-containing ingredients. Gastro doctors are a vital component in assisting patients with celiac disease in developing a gluten-free regimen and making lifestyle changes that are imperative to health. In addition, a GI specialist can prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements that contain the nutrients patients need to assist in nutrient absorption. Your GI doctor may recommend that you make an appointment with a registered dietician for help with diet regimen. If symptoms of celiac disease persist without being diagnosed and treated, they can lead to serious health complications, including thyroid disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and intestinal cancers.
In some cases, a colonoscopy, which is a screening for colon cancer, may be necessary. Make certain to tell your GI doctor about every symptom you have, even if you are not sure if it relates to celiac disease or digestion. Because celiac disease causes malabsorption of vital nutrients your body needs, its effects can spread to virtually every system in the body. Only your gastro doctor can properly diagnose celiac disease. Contact a qualified GI doctor for more information and screening for this and other gastrological conditions.
People suffering from celiac disease cannot tolerate consumption of gluten, which is a mixture of plant proteins used in grains such as wheat, corn, rye, and barley. Believe it or not, the word 'gluten' derives from the Latin word for 'glue.' Aptly named, gluten is actually an adhesive, and it is this adhesive quality that makes this protein so difficult to digest. Gluten is used as a substitute for flour in many of the processed foods that make today's typical American diet so unhealthy. However, what many people, even some who suffer from celiac disease, don't know is that gluten is also used in many medications, vitamins, and even in such products as lip balm. (For this reason, if you suffer from celiac disease, it is vital that you receive treatment by a qualified GI doctor who can help you design a diet that avoids the consumption of any gluten-containing products and medications.) Following are some of the symptoms to look for, as well as steps to take, if you suspect you may be suffering from celiac disease.
Symptoms
The warning signs of celiac disease include many digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, decreased or even increased appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lactose intolerance, foul-smelling or oily stools and unexplained weight loss. However, there are some symptoms of celiac disease that are not as obvious because they do not seem to be related to the digestive system. These can include depression, anxiety, fatigue, easy bruising, hair loss, missed menstrual periods, mouth sores, nosebleeds, itchy skin or rash, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and seizures. Symptoms in children can even include delayed growth or puberty, shorter-than-normal height for age, irritability, poor weight gain, and changes in tooth color or tooth enamel defects.
Treatment
There are tests that your gastro doctor can perform that will aid in the diagnosis of suspected celiac disease. In addition, there are treatments for celiac disease that can alleviate or even eliminate its accompanied symptoms.
Because so many foods in the typical American diet include products that contain gluten, the first step to treating celiac disease typically is for patients to learn these in order to follow a strict gluten-free diet. Foods, beverages, medications, and all other products containing gluten must be eliminated in order to prevent damage to intestinal villi. All patients who have been diagnosed with celiac disease must thoroughly read the labels provided on foods and drug in order avoid gluten-containing ingredients. Gastro doctors are a vital component in assisting patients with celiac disease in developing a gluten-free regimen and making lifestyle changes that are imperative to health. In addition, a GI specialist can prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements that contain the nutrients patients need to assist in nutrient absorption. Your GI doctor may recommend that you make an appointment with a registered dietician for help with diet regimen. If symptoms of celiac disease persist without being diagnosed and treated, they can lead to serious health complications, including thyroid disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and intestinal cancers.
In some cases, a colonoscopy, which is a screening for colon cancer, may be necessary. Make certain to tell your GI doctor about every symptom you have, even if you are not sure if it relates to celiac disease or digestion. Because celiac disease causes malabsorption of vital nutrients your body needs, its effects can spread to virtually every system in the body. Only your gastro doctor can properly diagnose celiac disease. Contact a qualified GI doctor for more information and screening for this and other gastrological conditions.