Why You Should Get Tested for Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease
By Cheyenne Tyler Jacobs

When it comes to our day to day, some aspects of life often seem to be unavoidable. It comes to many modern-day can diets that look like our gluten intake. It is estimated that we ingest around 5-20 grams of foods and grains that contain gluten daily.

Even some of our lip care products contain gluten, and in recent years, more products have been distancing themselves from the ingredient. However, individuals may not know their discomfort after eating gluten is a celiac disease with all this consumption.

According to research published National Library of Medicine, “Gluten is the main storage protein of wheat grains. Gluten is a complex mixture of hundreds of related but distinct proteins, mainly gliadin and glutenin.” Therefore, we find gluten very heavily in whole wheat, barley, and rye which can cause inflammation known as celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an inflammatory causing the autoimmune disease which impacts around 1 in 5of the US population. Ingesting gluten disrupts the small intestine lining and can cause issues such as diarrhea, weight loss, and even discomfort. If celiac goes untreated, an individual can encounter severe health impacts such as mouth ulcers or infertility.

It is essential to know that celiac disease is caused by eating gluten, mainly in people with two types of genes, DQ2 and DQ8. In addition, the reaction to gluten spurs can also impact the body later in life, so an individual may not see inflammation until adulthood. These reasons make it imperative to monitor responses to gluten products over time. Below are the side effects of celiac disease and obtaining an official diagnosis from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Signs of Celiac Disease:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Bloating

These are some signs that celiac disease may be present in the body. If you are experiencing these symptoms and have other autoimmune disorders, seek a doctor. In addition, if there is a history of celiac disease in your family, it is beneficial to be tested twice a year to see if any change has occurred. These tests can range from blood tests to endoscopy and potentially eating gluten products over a few weeks.

Because of the inflammation, some individuals opt to be gluten-free without a celiac diagnosis. As concerns grow, more food choices are available that are gluten-free, but we still have some work regarding the accessibility of those food choices. Please visit the HUED directory to find a primary care provider or specialist to navigate a gluten-free diet and celiac disease.

Site content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.