Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an immune disease in which people can't eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine. If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is found mainly in foods but may also be in other products like medicines, vitamins and supplements, lip balm, and even the glue on stamps and envelopes.
Celiac disease affects each person differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or in other parts of the body. One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person may be irritable or depressed. Irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children. Some people have no symptoms.
Celiac disease is genetic. Blood tests can help your doctor diagnose the disease. Your doctor may also need to examine a small piece of tissue from your small intestine. Treatment is a diet free of gluten.
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month
As you can see, although Celiac Disease is a fairly prominent condition, it tends to be relatively under-diagnosed. Additionally, due to the potential health implications, it is a serious condition that warrants further attention. If you have any of the signs, symptoms or risk factors listed above, please feel free to schedule an appointment with us to discuss your concerns and schedule further testing. All of our physicians are board-certified in gastroenterology and perform upper endoscopies regularly. We look forward to seeing you!
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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