Gluten Free is Not Just for Celebrities
Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune condition that can affect children as well as adults. It is often diagnosed initially as other diseases such as food intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Celiac is only considered after the treatments used to alleviate the other conditions prove ineffective. Classic symptoms of Celiac disease include, but are not limited to:
- Unexplained anemia due to a folic acid, B12 or iron deficiency
- Distention and or bloating of the stomach
- Chronic diarrhea and or constipation
- Fatty stools (steatorrhea)
- Large appetite accompanied by unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained weight gain
- Abdominal cramping
- Intestinal gas
Celiac disease triggers the immune system to produce certain antibodies. If your doctor suspects Celiac disease they will order a specific blood test to measure your levels of Immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgAtTG) and Immunoglobulin antiendomysial antibody (IgAEMA). If these test results prove positive, your health professional may then perform a biopsy of the small intestine to confirm Celiac disease.
Some other tests your doctor might order when trying to diagnose Celiac disease include: a CBC to determine if you`re anemic, a metabolic comprehensive panel to check for any mineral or electrolyte imbalances, or a lipoprotein panel to check your levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (for details concerning these tests refer to our blogs on different types of blood work). For adults, doctors may also check spleen functioning because; if your spleen poorly functioning or nonfunctional you may be at a higher risk for developing a pneumococcal infection. For this, your physician may recommend the pneumococcal vaccine.
Although there is no way of preventing the development of Celiac disease, symptoms and further damage to the small intestine can be managed by sustaining a strict gluten-free diet and possibly certain dairy products. Though an inconvenience for your lifestyle, it may not be a permanent fixture in your diet and over time you might be able to reintroduce milk products into your diet without triggering your symptoms. To learn more talk with your doctor and visit:www.celiac.org/
