When my daughter started having health issues at only a couple months old, her doctors suspected that her difficulties may have been caused by celiac disease. We eventually discovered that celiac disease was not the cause of her problems, but we learned quite a bit about it over the months that we believed that the celiac disease may have been what was affecting our daughter.
Celiac disease seems to have become more prevalent in recent years, affecting as many as 1 in every 133 Americans. Celiac disease is a disease of the digestive tract that is worsened by the consumption of foods containing gluten, such as bread and pasta. An individual with celiac disease who consumes these gluten-containing foods may cause damage to the interior lining of the small intestines. This damage can be permanent and could affect the person’s ability to absorb specific nutrients later.
Celiac disease cannot be cured
There is no cure for celiac disease, however, the symptoms caused by the disease can be controlled with a gluten-free diet. There is no definitive set of symptoms that every person with celiac disease will experience and in many cases, celiac disease is diagnosed by the implementation of a gluten-free diet. If the diet appears to improve the patient’s symptoms, a diagnosis of celiac disease may be made and other tests may or may not be conducted.
Abdominal pain
Men and women who suffer from celiac disease often report abdominal pain and discomfort. This pain may range from mild to severe. Some find the pain only uncomfortable, while others are completely debilitated by the pain caused by celiac disease. Abdominal pain and discomfort may or may not be accompanied by intestinal gas and bloating.
Abnormal bowel movements
Individuals who suffer from celiac disease may experience frequent and persistent bouts of diarrhea and other abnormalities related to their bowel movements. Some experience what is known as steatorrhea, or the passing of especially fatty stools. Other issues, such as constipation, are common among those with celiac disease as well.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Celiac disease can go for many years, completely undetected. During this time, a person with undiagnosed celiac disease may cause unintentional damage to the interior lining of their intestines, thus affecting their body’s ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. For this reason, those with celiac disease are more likely to suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Infertility
An alarming number of women who struggle with infertility are determined to suffer from celiac disease as well. As many as 4-8% of women who are struggling with infertility also have celiac disease. Some studies even indicate that unexplained infertility may be treated with a gluten-free diet, possibly due to undiagnosed celiac disease. Women who suffer from celiac disease may experience infertility due to damage to their reproductive system due to improper absorption of vitamins and minerals.
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