Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease that occurs in persons who are genetically predisposed. It is estimated that 1 in 100 persons worldwide are afflicted. In America alone, there are about 2.5 million people who are not yet diagnosed and at risk for long-term health complications due to the disease.
When a person has celiac disease, they have an immune response to gluten, which is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley. Long term health problems can result, including multiple sclerosis, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, miscarriage, and others.
Currently the only known treatment of celiac disease is a gluten free diet. Persons with this condition must avoid all foods and that contain wheat, rye, or barley. This includes many things most of us take for granted in our daily diet--bread and beer for example, and even medications that contain gluten in their formulation. Even a few crumbs can cause health issues, so the diet must be followed religiously 100% of the time. Gluten free food preparation is ideally prepared in an area separate from other foods.
Celiac disease has other names that you may have heard before. These include celiac sprue, coeliac disease, non-tropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Symptoms include abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting. constipation, fatigue, irritability, weight loss, and failure to thrive. If a first-degree relative has celiac disease, there is a 1 in 10 chance that an individual is afflicted. Diagnosis can be confirmed by blood test and/or biopsy.
A recently published Swedish study suggests that there is a link between celiac disease and development of neuropathy. According to the results, persons with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease were 2.5 times more likely than others to develop neuropathy. It is suspected that the immune-mediate nature of celiac disease is also to blame for this complication. The researchers also found that persons with neuropathy were at increased risk for development of celiac disease.
Sources: Medpage Today; Celiac.org; Flickr
When a person has celiac disease, they have an immune response to gluten, which is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley. Long term health problems can result, including multiple sclerosis, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, miscarriage, and others.
Currently the only known treatment of celiac disease is a gluten free diet. Persons with this condition must avoid all foods and that contain wheat, rye, or barley. This includes many things most of us take for granted in our daily diet--bread and beer for example, and even medications that contain gluten in their formulation. Even a few crumbs can cause health issues, so the diet must be followed religiously 100% of the time. Gluten free food preparation is ideally prepared in an area separate from other foods.
Celiac disease has other names that you may have heard before. These include celiac sprue, coeliac disease, non-tropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Symptoms include abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting. constipation, fatigue, irritability, weight loss, and failure to thrive. If a first-degree relative has celiac disease, there is a 1 in 10 chance that an individual is afflicted. Diagnosis can be confirmed by blood test and/or biopsy.
A recently published Swedish study suggests that there is a link between celiac disease and development of neuropathy. According to the results, persons with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease were 2.5 times more likely than others to develop neuropathy. It is suspected that the immune-mediate nature of celiac disease is also to blame for this complication. The researchers also found that persons with neuropathy were at increased risk for development of celiac disease.
Sources: Medpage Today; Celiac.org; Flickr
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