While Celiac Awareness Month is recognized in May, September 13th has been designated as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day. The date commemorates the birthday of Dr. Samuel Gee, a leading physician who first published comprehensive literature on celiac disease in the late 1880s.†††
Thanks to efforts to raise awareness, people are learning about the disease. That’s especially important as it can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome, says Dr. Sunil Khurana of Premier Medical Group in Dutchess County, New York.
“Celiac disease is also confused with other gluten-related disorders, such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or a wheat allergy,” said Dr. Khurana.
So what exactly is celiac disease? Celiac Disease Foundation® defines celiac disease as “a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.”* Gluten is a protein found in grains, especially wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes in mixed oats. An estimated 1 in 133 Americans, or about 1% of the population,** have this autoimmune disease. However, only about 30%* of people with celiac disease are properly diagnosed.
The common symptoms*** of celiac disease include:
- Constant (chronic) diarrhea or constipation
- Weight loss
- Gas
- Pale, bad-smelling stool
- Unexplained low blood count that makes you feel tired (anemia)
- Tingling, numb feeling in the legs
- Missed menstrual periods (linked to too much weight loss)
- Infertility
Celiac symptoms aren’t the same for everyone, they can vary depending on age and the amount of damage to the small intestine. Some people go years before an accurate celiac diagnosis is made.
“If untreated, this disease can cause serious complications, such as autoimmune disease, anemia, osteoporosis, and certain types of intestinal cancer,” said Dr. Khurana.
He says the first step is a proper diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Two blood tests can help diagnose celiac disease—serologic tests and intestinal biopsies.**** Simply put, serologic tests are blood tests that look for antibodies in your blood. High levels of certain antibodies indicate an immune reaction to gluten. The next step, a biopsy of the small intestine, would check for damage to the villi – tiny hair-like projections that line the inside of the small intestine – to confirm the diagnosis.
Risks
Only genetic testing can determine if you’re predisposed for celiac disease. Did you know that about 5-10%† of people with a parent, sibling, or child diagnosed with celiac disease are likely to have it as well? The good news is that once diagnosed, there are simple changes you can make to your diet that will help alleviate symptoms.
“Your symptoms will get better and your small intestine will heal if you follow a lifelong gluten-free diet,” said Dr. Khurana.
Foods to Avoid
The rule of thumb is to avoid foods that could contain gluten. This includes ingredients like wheat, rye, and barley, as well as derivatives of those ingredients like brewer’s yeast and malt. Unless they are made in a guaranteed gluten-free facility, it’s best to avoid processed foods since they can become contaminated if exposed to gluten proteins during processing. Luckily, there are many whole foods that are naturally gluten free including fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, fish and poultry.
Simple substitutions can go a long way in keeping the symptoms of celiac disease at bay. For baking and cooking with flour, you can choose gluten-free options including potato, almond or rice flour. Gluten-free breads, pastas, and oats are a great choice too, but be sure to read the labels to make sure they were made in a gluten-free facility to be extra safe. Gluten can be in some unexpected places like medications and cosmetics so it’s important to speak with your pharmacist and always read labels.
Next Steps
Concerned that you have celiac disease? Experiencing some of the common symptoms? Contact Premier Medical Group to make an appointment with the Gastroenterology Division for a proper diagnosis. “Patients are truly amazed at the rapid improvement of their symptoms once they start a gluten-free way of life.”
*https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/
*** https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/celiac-disease
† https://www.premiermedicalhv.com/divisions/services/celiac-disease/