The Basics Of Celiac Disease

By Nicole Stevenson
[Health & Your Life]
Signs And Symptoms

With a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, cramps, bloating, irritability, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, depression, arthritis, bone and joint pain, tingling and numbness in the extremities and a burning, itchy, red skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis, celiac disease can masquerade as many different problems.  Because one celiac sufferer may experience completely different symptoms from another, it can be quite difficult to diagnose.  If some of these symptoms are ringing a bell for you, pay attention to when they occur.  If you notice that digestive problems, which are more common in children, occur after eating pasta or bone and joint pain seems to arise after enjoying some bread, check with a doctor about doing a simple blood test to screen for celiac disease.  If left untreated, celiac can lead to complications like difficulty conceiving, neuropathy or bowel and esophagus cancer, so don’t ignore symptoms, even if they seem common or harmless.

Living Gluten-Free Is Possible

While there is no cure, the only treatment for celiac disease is to cut gluten from your diet completely.  With wheat, rye and barley omnipresent, it can be overwhelming to even think about a gluten-free existence, but it’s not as hard as it looks.  Wheat flour is not the only type available.  Rice, soy, buckwheat, bean or potato flour can act as substitutes when baking.  Gluten-free breads and pastas are also becoming more readily available not just at health food stores, but most grocery stores as well.  Always read food labels carefully and pay special attention to processed foods like lunchmeats.  Plain meat and fish, seeds, legumes, nuts, arrowroot, rice not prepared in facilities that make wheat products and fresh produce are all great options for celiac sufferers.  If you are newly diagnosed with celiac disease, speak to your doctor and a registered dietician who can help you learn to recognize hidden gluten and can keep you up-to-date on commercial food changes.  You will always have to live with celiac disease, but you don’t have to let it ruin your life!


Sources:
www.celiac.ca
Health Canada
The American College of Gastroenterology
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