Have you ever felt tired, bloated, or stomach ache after eating but did not know why? It can be celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein in foods like wheat, barley, and rye. For someone with celiac disease, taking gluten can harm the digestive system. 

If you want to know more, this blog post will explain celiac disease, its symptoms, its diagnosis, and how to manage it. It will help you better understand this common condition. So, read on!

What is Celiac Disease All About?

Celiac disease is a long-term condition that impacts people’s digestive systems and immune responses. It mainly damages the small intestines. The main cause is food that contains gluten, which is present in most wheat, rye, and barley-containing foods like pasta, bread, cakes, and cookies. 

It is also present in various products, including prepackaged foods and beverages, lip balm, lipstick, face and hand creams, toothpaste, vitamins and nutrients, and medicines. Also, It is an inherited disease that results from genetic factors. It can run in families. If one parent is affected, the chance increases to 1 in 10 for the children and siblings.

Fact: According to research, 1 out of 100 people is suspected of celiac disease.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease symptoms can vary widely, making diagnosis challenging. Common signs include:

• Digestive problems like bloating, diarrhoea, or constipation.

• Fatigue and weakness.

• Iron-deficiency anaemia.

• Unexplained weight loss.

• Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis).

• Joint pain and headaches.

Symptoms may include delayed growth, failure to thrive, or behavioural issues in children. Interestingly, some people may have "silent" celiac disease, showing no obvious symptoms despite intestinal damage.

How Does Gluten Affect the Body in Celiac Disease?

When individuals suffering from celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their bodies are triggered to pour-attack the small intestine. These attacks cause injury to the villi, which are small, fingerlike projections of the mucosa that enhance nutrient absorption in the small intestine. 

People cannot absorb digestion products easily when the villi are not working. This disease can develop at any age after someone starts taking gluten. If untreated for a long time, it results in serious health issues such as;

• Osteoporosis due to poor calcium absorption.

• Infertility and miscarriages.

• Neurological conditions like ataxia or peripheral neuropathy.

• An increased risk of certain cancers, such as intestinal lymphoma.

Celiac disease can be more serious because it creates chronic gastrointestinal disorders and deprives the body of essential nutrients. However, it can also impact other body parts apart from the small intestines.

How to Diagnose and Treat Celiac Disease?

Diagnosis and Testing

Celiac disease diagnosis first involves a blood test to determine the presence of certain antibodies. In case of positive results, the doctor will conduct an intestinal biopsy to diagnose the condition further. 

Also, it is very important to keep taking gluten during testing because if you stop before the testing process, you can get a negative result even though you have it. New tools for diagnosis, such as blood tests, are becoming more accurate.

Fact: Only 30% of patients with celiac disease are properly diagnosed.

Treatment: Gluten-Free Living

Celiac disease therapy is exclusively therapeutic and requires lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. It excludes all food products that contain wheat, barley, rye or any products made from them. Also, foods prepared through contact with viruses can be unsafe, and proper conditions must be maintained during food preparation when eating out or cooking at home.

However, though a gluten-free diet reduces the symptoms and heals the gut damage, the patient cannot be careless. The good news is that there are abundant gluten-free products and tools to ease the healing process today.

Ongoing Research and Future Directions

While celiac disease has not yet been cured, further research is conducted to provide a potential solution. Current treatment includes enzyme supplements that try to break down glutens in the small bowel and new vaccines to modulate the immune system. Until recently, the only option has been cautiously sticking to a gluten-free diet as the best course of action.

Is Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Same?

Celiac disease is different from wheat intolerance or gluten sensitivity. People with gluten intolerance may experience some of the signs of celiac disease, like abdominal pain and fatigue. In contrast to celiac disease, gluten sensitivity has no destructive effect on the small intestine.

Celiac disease also differs from wheat allergy. In both cases, your body’s immune system responds to wheat products, wheat gluten, or whatever it is you are allergic to in wheat. However, some of these symptoms are not so similar to those of celiac disease, for example, if you have itchy eyes or feel that you cannot breathe. Wheat allergies are also not a factor in causing any long-term harm or deterioration in the small intestine.

Be a Supporter of a Celiac Disease-Diagnosed Person!

It is never easy to live with celiac disease. Your loved ones need proper attention if they come with it. So, we provide useful tips that can change their lives completely. 

• Understand what it means to cook gluten-free and food preparation precautions.

• Be careful in handling foods, to avoid contaminating one food from the other, especially when preparing your foods.

• Avoid preparing and serving restricted food products, and be careful of special occasions in or out of the restaurant.

• Take some time and be polite with your loved one. They will need time to get used to the new way of life.

When you start following these tips, we are sure that you will get 100% good results and easily recover your patient.

Final Thoughts

Remember, celiac disease is a severe disorder that should be treated by altering the diet and other aspects of life. A better understanding of options available in gluten-free foods and improved technology has made it possible for a person diagnosed with the condition to live a normal, happy life. If you have the slightest doubt that you or someone close to you has celiac disease, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.