What Is Celiac Disease?

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Don’t Allow
Celiac Disease to
Rule Your Life
What is celiac disease?
The Disorder
Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder in which the body is unable to tolerate gluten.
The Culprit
Gluten is a mixture of proteins that make up wheat, rye, and barley. When individuals with celiac
disease consume gluten, their bodies reacts by destroying villi – the small finger-like projections that
aid in absorbing nutrients through the walls of the small intestine.
Risk Factors
If too many villi are destroyed, it can result in malnutrition.
Genetics
Since it is a genetic disorder, if you have a first-degree family
member (parent or sibling) with celiac disease, you are 5% to
10% more likely to have it as well.
N
o
r
m
a
l V
illi
D
a
m
a
g
e
d
V
illi
Celiac disease afects 1
%
of
the population in the United States.
A statistical look at celiac disease
83
%
of Americans who sufer from
celiac disease are either undiagnosed
or misdiagnosed.
Celiac disease can be dificult to diagnose. There nearly 300 known symptoms that may occur in
the digestive system as well as other parts of the body, while some people with celiac disease display
no symptoms at all.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Depending on your age, your symptoms may vary.
Children
• Abdominal pain
• Chronic diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Delayed growth or development due to
lack of nutrition
Adults
• Arthritis
• Bone loss
• Fatigue due to iron deficiency
• Seizures
• Tingling in the hands and feet
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
The symptoms of celiac disease ofen mimic those of other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome,
inflammatory bowel disease, or an intestinal infection.
Blood Test
When you have an infection, your body produces antibodies. When your body fails to
recognize its own healthy cells, it leads to the production of auto-antibodies. A person with
celiac disease will have a higher level than normal of these auto-antibodies.
Endoscopy
If the results from the blood test suggest that you have celiac disease, your physician will
use an endoscopy to perform a biopsy of the small intestine and check for damaged villi.
Avoid preliminary dietary changes
If you think you have celiac disease, continue with your normal diet. If you eliminate
gluten before tests are run, the results may return negative, even if you are afected
by celiac disease.
Does celiac disease pose any serious
health threats?
Celiac disease can make you prone to a
handful of other health problems such as:
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility
• Seizures
• Growth problems in children
• Rarely, cancer of the intestine
You may also have other autoimmune
diseases like:
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Lupus
• Sjögren’s syndrome
How do I treat celiac disease?
There is no over-the-counter or prescription medicine available to treat celiac disease. Eliminating
gluten from your diet is the only way to treat the symptoms of celiac disease. Avoiding gluten will also
help heal damaged villi and prevent further damage from occurring.
Gluten-free alternatives
Foods to Avoid (Unless labeled gluten-free)
• Beer
• Bread
• Pasta
• Cookies
• Crackers
• Cakes
• Farina
• Cold cuts
• Soy sauce
• Certain meat marinades
Foods to Enjoy
• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Corn starch
• Corn flour
• Lentils
• Potatoes
• Soy
• Yucca
• Flax
• Legumes
• Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free,
so you can eat as many of those as you like!
The key to finding gluten-free alternatives? Read the label!
Get in touch
If you’re in the Hudson Valley, give Premier Medical Group a call at 845.471.9410 or
visit premiermedicalhv.com to learn more.
Specializing in:
• Urology
• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Women’s Health
• Rheumatology
The comprehensive surgical and medical care provided by Premier Medical Group is not only
state-of-the-art, but also focused on each patient’s individual needs and comfort.

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