Celiac Disease: How to Manage Symptoms

Choosing the right foods to eat in a day can be a difficult decision for all of us. Especially for those people who must live with the symptoms of celiac disease. Because for them, foods that contain gluten can cause painful symptoms and even develop into more serious conditions if left untreated. Celiac disease is a digestive condition that is triggered by the consumption of protein gluten. Protein gluten is found in certain foods like bread, pastas, cookies, pizza crusts and other foods made from grains. When you suffer from celiac disease and consume foods containing gluten, you experience an immune reaction in your small intestine. This makes your body unable to absorb certain nutrients. Over time, the melabsorption that occurs in the body can cause numerous vitamin deficiencies that can deprive your organs of important, vital nourishment, which can lead to other illnesses. Currently, there is no cure for celiac disease, however the symptoms can be managed through changes in your diet.

There are many signs and symptoms of celiac disease including; diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating. Sometimes the symptoms you experience can even mimic those of other illnesses. Depression is a common symptom, as well as joint pain, muscle cramps, mouth sores, even tingling in the legs and feet can occur in those who suffer from celiac disease. There are also several symptoms of malabsorption that can occur with celiac disease, these include weight loss, general weakness, fatigue and foul smelling stools. Another very common symptom that occurs with celiac disease is a condition known as Dermatitis Herpetiformis, which is an itchy skin condition that can cause blisters on the skin. If you are someone who is experiencing any of these symptoms and signs of celiac disease you may need to consult with your family physician to be tested. Doctors aren't sure why certain people deal with celiac disease and others don't. However, the condition is caused when the villi in your small intestine isn't able to absorb the nutrients you consume the way it's supposed to. Instead, important nutrients like fat, protein, vitamins and minerals are eliminated from the body in the stool. Which means the body isn't able to use the nutrients it needs to help it function efficiently. Many times this disease will emerge after the body has been through some sort of trauma. The risk factors for celiac disease are not known. This illness can and does affect people of all ages and nationalities. However, it tends to be common in people who have Type 1 Diabetes, an Autoimmune thyroid disease Or Down Syndrome. If you ignore the signs of celiac disease and forego going to your physician and treating the symptoms you stand the chance of developing more complications. Malnutrition is a very common complication experienced by those with celiac disease who resist treatment. This occurs because vital nutrients needed by the body are lost in the stool. Another common problem is loss of calcium and bone density. Continually losing fat in your stools causes your body to also lose huge amounts of calcium and vitamin D. This can result in a bone condition called Osteomalacia, which is a softening of the bones in the body. This condition is also known as rickets in children. People with celiac disease who don't monitor their diet are at a much higher risk of developing cancer as well as neurological complications like seizures and nerve damage.

Your treatment will most likely begin with a visit to your family physician who then refers you to a gastroenterologist. There are specific blood tests that can be done to determine if you have celiac disease. People with celiac disease carry much higher than normal levels of antibodies in their system. A blood test can detect high levels of antibodies and is used to detect those who may have the disease. And if so, your physician may have to examine a small sample of the villi from the small intestine to check for damage. There are many treatment methods that will get you started on the right path to treat your condition. This usually means radical changes in the way you eat, or the foods you consume. Avoiding gluten is absolutely essential in treating your celiac disease. Once you remove the gluten from your diet, the inflammation in your small intestine subsides. It can take several weeks for your symptoms to get better. You will need to avoid breads, pastas, crackers, basically all foods made from grains unless their labeled gluten- free. If you suffer from celiac disease know that you are not alone and there are many resources available for you and others who suffer from the same condition. Betty Crocker sells many different types of cake mixes that are gluten free as well as other products. For more information on celiac disease check out www.celiac.org/cd-main.php, www.celiac.com, www.bettycocker.com/glutenfree and www.organicvalley.com.