Until a few decades, celiac was an uncommon word. But, in recent times, it has become a significant concern. This article discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease.
Celiac disease is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the world. It is a severe condition that can cause damage to the small intestine and other organs in the body.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the small intestine’s digestive process.
When people with celiac disease eat foods that contain gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the villi – the tiny, finger-like projections that line the small intestine.
This damage prevents the absorption of nutrients from food, which can lead to serious health problems.
The other names for celiac disease are:
Sprue
Nontropical sprue
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy
Did you know?
Every year, more than 7.5 percent of new cases of celiac disease are diagnosed in the United States.
Classical celiac disease is the most severe form of the condition and is characterized by symptoms that typically appear in early childhood.
Non-Classical Celiac Disease
Non-classical celiac disease is a milder condition, and symptoms typically appear in adulthood.
Silent Celiac Disease
A silent celiac disease is a form of sprue that does not cause any symptoms. This is generally considered an asymptomatic celiac disease. However, people with silent celiac disease are still at risk for the same long-term health complications as those with other types of celiac disease.
9 Common celiac disease symptoms
Generally, the symptoms of celiac sprue are associated with digestive and kidney diseases. However, the symptoms also show up in other body parts. Here are 9 signs you should be aware of:
1. Digestive Symptoms
One of the early symptoms of celiac disease is associated with the digestive system. These symptoms include:
Diarrhea
Abdominal bloating
Gas
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Swollen belly in children
2. Skin And Hair-Related Symptoms
Celiac sprue can also cause skin and hair-related symptoms, such as:
Dermatitis herpetiformis- A health condition that causes a blistery skin rash.
Alopecia- A medical concern that results in baldness.
3. Nutritional Deficiencies
Celiac disease can lead to nutritional deficiencies due to the damage it causes to the small intestine. This can lead to health conditions such as:
Anemia
Osteoporosis
Unexpected weight loss
Delayed growth in children
4. Muscle and Bone Problems
Celiac disease can also cause several muscle and bone-related problems, such as:
Arthritis
Muscle cramps
Bone pain
Joint pain
5. Weight Fluctuations
Weight fluctuations are another common celiac disease symptom. People with celiac disease may experience unexplained weight gain or weight loss due to the malabsorption of nutrients.
6. Neurological Symptoms
Neurological symptoms are one of the serious concerns people with celiac disease may experience. These symptoms include:
Difficulty in speaking
Abnormal voice
Ataxia
Brain fog
Peripheral neuropathy
Seizures
ADHD in children
7. Hormonal Problems
Women with celiac disease may often experience hormonal problems such as:
Infertility
Missed periods
Early menopause
Delayed puberty in children
8. Mental Health Concerns
Celiac disease affects not just the physical health but also the mental health of a person. People with celiac disease are at a higher risk of developing mental health issues such as:
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
9. Other Health Problems
In addition to the above symptoms, people with celiac disease may face issues like:
Fatigue
Migraines
Headaches
Dizziness
Causes and risk factors
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation [2]Celiac Disease Foundation: What is Celiac Disease?, celiac disease is a hereditary condition.
However, it is not only limited to heredity. People with certain health conditions are also at risk for celiac disease. It tends to be common in individuals who have:
Genetic disorders
Autoimmune diseases
Thyroid
Intestinal cancer
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Down syndrome
Type 1 diabetes
Lactose intolerance
Difference between celiac disease And non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Although both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity are associated with gluten intolerance, they have many differences. These are listed in the below table:
Criteria
Celiac Disease
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Cause
Auto-immune response to gluten
Unknown response to gluten-containing foods
Diagnosis
Blood tests, followed by endoscopy and biopsy
Eliminating all other medical possibilities
Treatment
Strict gluten-free diet
Strict gluten-free diet
Synonyms
Gluten sprue
Gluten Intolerance
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
Celiac disease can be challenging to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other conditions. If you think you may have celiac disease, be sure to see a doctor for a diagnosis. However, there are a few medical ways to test for celiac disease.
Medical History
Depending upon your medical history, doctors look for symptoms that might indicate celiac disease.
Blood And Antibody Tests
Blood and antibody tests can be used to look for the presence of antibodies associated with celiac disease.
Genetic Tests
Doctors may test you to look for the presence of genetic variants associated with celiac disease.
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a procedure that involves inserting a small camera into the digestive tract. This can be used to look for damage to the villi.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure in which a small tissue sample is taken from the small intestine and examined for damage caused by celiac sprue.
Celiac disease treatment
According to the national institutes of health [3]National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Celiac Disease, the only way to treat celiac disease is to avoid gluten from your diet permanently. This will help your intestinal villi to heal and absorb nutrients as they should.
Celiac disease can be a complex condition to deal with, but with the proper treatment, it can be managed. Doctors suggest the following treatment methods for people with celiac disease:
Symptomatic Medication
There are a few symptomatic medications that can help with the symptoms of celiac disease, such as
Antidiarrheal medication
Pain relief medication
Gluten-Free Diet
People with celiac disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet. This means avoiding all foods that contain gluten, such as wheat, barley, and rye.
There are a few points to remember for effectively following a gluten-free diet:
Check food labels to ensure it’s gluten free
Avoid processed foods
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eat gluten-free grains
Beware of cross-contaminated foods
Find gluten-free alternatives
Nutritional Supplements
Developing celiac disease may lead to nutritional deficiencies. In order to meet your nutritional requirements, you may need to take dietary supplements like:
Iron
Folic acid
Vitamin B12
Calcium
Vitamin D3
Note: Take any supplements only upon advice from a healthcare professional.
Contrary to the above-mentioned treatment methods, some people may not respond to normal celiac disease treatment. This condition is known as refractory celiac disease. If your symptoms don’t improve after 12 months of treatment, see a doctor for further tests.
Conclusion
Celiac disease can be managed with proper treatment. However, there is no cure for it. The only way to treat celiac disease is to follow a strict gluten-free diet.
If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to many complications. So, it’s essential to get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Branched-chain amino acids, commonly known as BCAAs, have gained popularity for their potential to boost muscle growth, exercise performance,…
Our website services and content, and products are for informational purposes only. Our content does not constitute a medical consultation. See additional information.
var kadence_blocks_form_params = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/beactivefit.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","error_message":"Please fix the errors to proceed","nonce":"2dc7997210","required":"is required","mismatch":"does not match","validation":"is not valid","duplicate":"requires a unique entry and this value has already been used","item":"Item"};
var molongui_authorship_byline_params = {"byline_prefix":"","byline_suffix":"","byline_separator":". Reviewed By ","byline_last_separator":" . \u2705 Reviewed By ","byline_link_title":"View all posts by","byline_link_class":"","byline_dom_tree":"","byline_dom_prepend":"","byline_dom_append":"","byline_decoder":"v3"};
var kadenceConfig = {"screenReader":{"expand":"Expand child menu","expandOf":"Expand child menu of","collapse":"Collapse child menu","collapseOf":"Collapse child menu of"},"breakPoints":{"desktop":"1024","tablet":768},"scrollOffset":"0"};
var kadence_blocks_toc = {"headings":"[{\"anchor\":\"what-is-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"What is celiac disease?\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"three-types-of-celiac-diseases\",\"content\":\"Three types of celiac diseases\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"classical-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Classical Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"nonclassical-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Non-Classical Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"silent-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Silent Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"9-common-celiac-disease-symptoms\",\"content\":\"9 Common celiac disease symptoms\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"1-digestive-symptoms\",\"content\":\"1. Digestive Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"2-skin-and-hairrelated-symptoms\",\"content\":\"2. Skin And Hair-Related Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"3-nutritional-deficiencies\",\"content\":\"3. Nutritional Deficiencies\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"4-muscle-and-bone-problems\",\"content\":\"4. Muscle and Bone Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"5-weight-fluctuations\",\"content\":\"5. Weight Fluctuations\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"6-neurological-symptoms\",\"content\":\"6. Neurological Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"7-hormonal-problems\",\"content\":\"7. Hormonal Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"8-mental-health-concerns\",\"content\":\"8. Mental Health Concerns\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"9-other-health-problems\",\"content\":\"9. Other Health Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"causes-and-risk-factors\",\"content\":\"Causes and risk factors\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"difference-between-celiac-disease-and-nonceliac-gluten-sensitivity\",\"content\":\"Difference between celiac disease And non-celiac gluten sensitivity\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"how-is-celiac-disease-diagnosed\",\"content\":\"How is celiac disease diagnosed?\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"medical-history\",\"content\":\"Medical History\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"blood-and-antibody-tests\",\"content\":\"Blood And Antibody Tests\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"genetic-tests\",\"content\":\"Genetic Tests\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"endoscopy\",\"content\":\"Endoscopy\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"biopsy\",\"content\":\"Biopsy\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"celiac-disease-treatment\",\"content\":\"Celiac disease treatment\\u00a0\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"symptomatic-medication\",\"content\":\"Symptomatic Medication\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"glutenfree-diet\",\"content\":\"Gluten-Free Diet\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"nutritional-supplements\",\"content\":\"Nutritional Supplements\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"conclusion\",\"content\":\"Conclusion\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1}]","expandText":"Expand Table of Contents","collapseText":"Collapse Table of Contents"};
var kadence_blocks_toc = {"headings":"[{\"anchor\":\"what-is-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"What is celiac disease?\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"three-types-of-celiac-diseases\",\"content\":\"Three types of celiac diseases\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"classical-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Classical Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"nonclassical-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Non-Classical Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"silent-celiac-disease\",\"content\":\"Silent Celiac Disease\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"9-common-celiac-disease-symptoms\",\"content\":\"9 Common celiac disease symptoms\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"1-digestive-symptoms\",\"content\":\"1. Digestive Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"2-skin-and-hairrelated-symptoms\",\"content\":\"2. Skin And Hair-Related Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"3-nutritional-deficiencies\",\"content\":\"3. Nutritional Deficiencies\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"4-muscle-and-bone-problems\",\"content\":\"4. Muscle and Bone Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"5-weight-fluctuations\",\"content\":\"5. Weight Fluctuations\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"6-neurological-symptoms\",\"content\":\"6. Neurological Symptoms\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"7-hormonal-problems\",\"content\":\"7. Hormonal Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"8-mental-health-concerns\",\"content\":\"8. Mental Health Concerns\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"9-other-health-problems\",\"content\":\"9. Other Health Problems\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"causes-and-risk-factors\",\"content\":\"Causes and risk factors\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"difference-between-celiac-disease-and-nonceliac-gluten-sensitivity\",\"content\":\"Difference between celiac disease And non-celiac gluten sensitivity\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"how-is-celiac-disease-diagnosed\",\"content\":\"How is celiac disease diagnosed?\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"medical-history\",\"content\":\"Medical History\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"blood-and-antibody-tests\",\"content\":\"Blood And Antibody Tests\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"genetic-tests\",\"content\":\"Genetic Tests\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"endoscopy\",\"content\":\"Endoscopy\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"biopsy\",\"content\":\"Biopsy\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"celiac-disease-treatment\",\"content\":\"Celiac disease treatment\\u00a0\",\"level\":2,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"symptomatic-medication\",\"content\":\"Symptomatic Medication\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"glutenfree-diet\",\"content\":\"Gluten-Free Diet\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"nutritional-supplements\",\"content\":\"Nutritional Supplements\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1},{\"anchor\":\"conclusion\",\"content\":\"Conclusion\",\"level\":3,\"page\":1}]","expandText":"Expand Table of Contents","collapseText":"Collapse Table of Contents"};