- According to the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center, this disease affects more than three million Americans. Celiac Disease is an equal-opportunity disease: it affects people without regard to race, gender, or age. Though no cure exists and exact causes have not been pinpointed, there are some clues as to the origins of this disease.
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Celiac disease affects people who are susceptible to gluten, according to the Mayo Clinic. They explain that the origin of celiac disease is likely inherited. MayoClinic.com states that your chances of contracting celiac disease are 5 to 15 percent if someone in your immediate family has already been diagnosed. Likewise, the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center refers to Celiac Disease as "an inherited disease."
The actual symptoms come from consuming gluten, a substance found in most carbohydrates. People who experience abdominal pain or other symptoms after eating pastas, breads, or other grains may be experiencing the effects of Celiac disease. -
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/413985315Celiac disease presents in hundreds of ways. Most symptoms are abdominal in origin, including abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, or weight loss. Other seemingly unrelated symptoms include anemia, delayed puberty and numbness in the joints (The University of Chicago). - To test a patient for Celiac disease, doctors take blood samples. The bodies of patients with Celiac disease recognize gluten as a foreign substance and produce antibodies to fight it; the blood test looks for these antibodies (The Mayo Clinic).
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There is no cure for Celiac disease; however, a regimented gluten-free diet can enable a person with this disease to live relatively symptom-free. A gluten-free diet restricts food choices considerably, but many food staples can still be consumed. These include meats, produce, dairy products, and gluten-free grains, such as corn and rice. Today, options exist for gluten-free versions of favorite grains and grain-based products. These can be found in local grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants.
Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is the key to living successfully with Celiac disease.
