HOW DO WE DIAGNOSE CELIAC DISEASE!!

 Doctors most often use blood tests and biopsies of the small intestine to diagnose or rule out celiac disease. Doctors don't recommend starting a gluten-free diet before diagnostic testing because a gluten-free diet can affect test results.

Two blood tests can help diagnose it: Serology testing looks for antibodies in your blood. Elevated levels of certain antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. Genetic testing for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) can be used to rule out celiac disease

WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE

 Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine. It's caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes oats. When someone with celiac disease ingests gluten, their immune system attacks their small intestine, damaging the lining and preventing the body from absorbing nutrients.

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 May is Celiac awareness month.....

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WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?

 Celiac disease, is an autoimmune disorder that affects around 1 in 100 Americans. The disease is caused by a gluten intolerance. Gliadin, a protein in wheat, causes the afflicted persons immune system to attack their own bowel tissue. This causes villous atrophy, or the erosion of the nutrient absorbing villi that line the small intestine. Other grains, such as barley and rye, have similarly shaped proteins that can cause the same reaction in sensitive individuals.

Celiac disease can cause irreversible damage. It is genetic in cause and can be passed down through generations. Testing for celiac disease is done through blood tests and endoscopy. It is important for the afflicted person to continue eating gluten while they are being tested for celiac disease. When they remove gluten from their diet, their body starts to repair itself, giving a false negative for the tests.

Celiac disease can cause a multitude of problems. The major ones come from the malabsorption of nutrients. This can lead to osteoporosis, anemia, and stunted growth in children. Those who suffer from celiac disease are also more likely to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma when compared to the general population. The best way to protect yourself and minimize your risk is early diagnosis and strict diet.  

WHAT CAN TRIGGER CELIAC ?

 What can trigger celiac disease?

Celiac disease is caused by specific genes, eating gluten, and possibly by some other triggers such as childbirth, surgery, stress, or other autoimmune disorders. However, medical science is still working to understand the roles of these potential causal factors.

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WHAT ARE THE 8 MOST COMMON SOURCES OF GLUTEN ??

 What foods are high in gluten?

Key is to read the labels and look for hidden sources of gluten or if made on shared equipment with gluten products.

The 8 most common sources of gluten include:

• Bread. This includes all types of bread (unless labeled “gluten-free”) such as rolls, buns, bagels, biscuits, and flour tortillas.
• Baked Goods. ..(Cookies, muffins, cakes and donuts)
• Pasta. .(all except ones labeled as gluten free)
• Cereal. ..(all except ones labeled as gluten free)
• Crackers. ..(all except ones labeled as gluten free)
• Beer. ..
• Gravy. ..
• Soup.

WHAT IS A GLUTEN FREE DIET?

 What is considered gluten free

A gluten-free diet excludes any foods that contain gluten, which is a protein found in wheat and several other grains. It means eating only whole foods that don't contain gluten, such as fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs, as well as processed gluten-free foods like gluten-free bread or pasta

WHAT LAB TEST CAN CONFIRM CELIAC DISEASE

 What lab test confirms celiac disease?

Two blood tests can help diagnose it: Serology testing looks for antibodies in your blood. Elevated levels of certain antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. Genetic testing for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) can be used to rule out celiac disease.

Next step is having an endoscopy for a biopsy.  This is recommended and gold standard.

WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE

 An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

Over time, the immune reaction to eating gluten creates inflammation that damages the small intestine's lining, leading to medical complications. It also prevents absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption).

The classic symptom is diarrhea. Other symptoms include bloating, gas, fatigue, low blood count (anemia), and osteoporosis. Many people have no symptoms.

The mainstay of treatment is a strict gluten-free diet that can help manage symptoms and promote intestinal healing.

SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC DISEASE

 What are the symptoms of celiac disease?

• bloating.
• chronic diarrhea.
• constipation.
• gas.
• lactose intolerance due to damage to the small intestine.
• loose, greasy, bulky, and bad-smelling stools.
• nausea or vomiting.
• pain in the abdomen

MAY IS CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH

 

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Symptoms of Celiac Disease

There are more than 250 known symptoms of celiac disease, a serious genetic autoimmune disease.

Celiac disease symptoms may vary among different people. Due to the wide variety of symptoms that may present themselves, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose celiac disease.

One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. Some patients develop symptoms of celiac disease early in life, while others feel healthy far into adulthood. Some people with celiac disease have no signs or symptoms at all.

These differences can make a celiac disease diagnosis extremely difficult to make, resulting in 83% of people with celiac disease undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.

Left untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease and certain cancers.

For a full list of the 281 associated symptoms, see University Health News.

Some common signs and symptoms of celiac disease include:

Anemia Anxiety Bloating or gas Brain fog Constipation Delayed growth in children Depression Diarrhea Discolored teeth