Celiac Disease Symptoms & Treatment

Celiac disease, once thought uncommon in the United States, is now believed to affect millions of Americans to varying degrees. Celiac disease is caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat and wheat products. Although the effects of celiac disease can be severe, for most people affected by this disease, it can be treated through diet. For most people (but not all), by completely removing gluten from the diet, you can begin to see improvement within three to six months. After a year, if you are faithful to the gluten free diet, the symptoms may all but disappear. So what are the symptoms of celiac disease? Celiac Disease Symptoms While celiac disease symptoms can vary widely from person to person, these are considered to be the most common symptoms of celiac disease: Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, weight loss, nausea,constipation, anemia, bone & joint pain, bone disease, dental enamel defects and discoloration, bruising easily, depression & irritability, seizures, vitamin and mineral deficiency. What if YOU Have Celiac Disease Symptoms? If you have celiac disease symptoms, it is important that you seek medical attention as quickly as possible. What sort of tests & treatment should you expect? First, they will do a blood test. This will likely indicate anemia if you have celiac disease. It is important thay they determine the cause of the anemia. They can also determine if there is bone loss, and the effects of malnutrition due to celiac disease. If your doctor determines you have celiac disease, he may need to preform a biopsy (taking a small tissue sample) which will verify the diagnosis. What is the Treatment of Celiac Disease? A life-long gluten-free diet is required. This allows the intestinal villi to heal. Foods, beverages, and medications which contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats are eliminated completely. You must read food and medication labels carefully to look for "hidden" sources of these grains and their derivatives. Since wheat and barley grains are found abundantly in the American diet, the treatment is challenging but achievable with education and planning. It is important that you NOT begin the gluten-free diet before a diagnosis is made. Doing so will alter future testing for the disease. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed to correct nutritional deficiencies. Following a well-balanced, gluten-free diet is generally the only treatment required for achieving wellness and eliminating symptoms. Upon diagnosis, seek consultation from a registered dietitian with a specialty in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Joining a local and national support group can also be invaluable in helping one to cope with the disease and diet.