Celiac disease (also referred to as celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by consuming a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. When a person with celiac eats gluten, the protein interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food by damaging a part of the small intestine called villi. Damaged villi make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to malnourishment and a host of other problems including some cancers, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
One out of every 133 Americans has celiac disease, equivalent to nearly 1% of the U.S. population. However, 95% of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This means that up to three million Americans have celiac disease and only about 200,000 know they have the condition. Celiac disease is a genetic disorder, meaning that it passes from parent to child via DNA. In some cases, stressful events such as pregnancy, surgery, infection, or severe emotional distress can trigger the onset of the disease.
With a wide variety of symptoms associated with celiac disease, gaining an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. To determine if a patient has celiac disease, a physician can screen by using a simple antibody blood test, sometimes combined with a genetic test. If a celiac diagnosis is still suspected, the doctor will likely perform a small intestinal biopsy for confirmation.
The treatment for celiac disease is simple: a lifelong gluten-free diet. There are no medications or surgeries that can cure the autoimmune disease. Eating any amount of gluten, no matter how tiny it is, can cause damage to the villi of the small intestine and prevent patients from absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream.
Eliminating popular foods from the diet can seem overwhelming when a patient is first diagnosed, but with a little extra effort in the kitchen, people with celiac disease can eat delicious food that tastes just as good as their gluten-containing counterparts.
GLUTEN-FREE = NO WHEAT, RYE OR BARLEY
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Abdominal Pain
Anemia
Bloating
Delayed Growth
Depression
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Diarrhea
Dental Enamel Defects
Fatigue
Gas
Infertility
Joint Pain
Pale Sores in Mouth
Migraines
Nausea
Numbness in Legs
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
Weight Loss
3 million Americans across all to diagnosis races, ages and genders suffer from celiac disease.
Average time to diagnosis is 6-10 years.
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
PO BOX 544
Ambler, PA 19002
[email protected]
215-325-1306
CeliacCentral.org
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