Celiac Disease: What It Is And How To Live With It

Celiac disease is an autoimmune and systemic disease. This means that it is the immune system itself that attacks different parts of the body, causing serious damage. In this case, the main focus of aggression is the mucosa of the small intestine.

The particular thing about celiac disease is that it is activated by the consumption of gluten. This is a protein found in foods like barley, oats, wheat, and rye. It is also in other types of products such as some toothpastes, lip balms and articles for the hair and skin.

It is important to clarify that celiac disease is not a simple intolerance to the consumption of gluten. Intolerance is the inability to digest a nutrient, as some people do with lactose.

In this case, however, the consumption of gluten causes the immune system to be activated in an inappropriate way. This causes damage to various organs.

General characteristics of celiac disease

Celiac disease is genetic. One of its main characteristics is that it can attack each person in a different way. Symptoms can occur in the digestive system, but also almost anywhere in the body. In fact, there are people who are asymptomatic.

The manifestations of celiac disease are so wide that while some people have diarrhea or abdominal pain, others feel depressed or irritable. All of this makes diagnosis very difficult.

Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1% of the population. However, only one in seven cases can be correctly diagnosed .

Many people, for example, have constipation and abdominal bloating. However, they do not consult the doctor for this as they can give you a home management, even if these episodes recur frequently.

Types of celiac disease

For years, only celiac disease cases that presented the typical modality were diagnosed. However, science has been able to establish that there are also atypical forms in the manifestation of this pathology. A broader disease classification was then developed.

The types of celiac disease are :

• Symptomatic. It is the classic way. Typical symptoms are present and confirmed by laboratory tests.

• Subclinical. In this case there are no symptoms, but clinical tests show a positive result for celiac disease.

• Latent. It corresponds to cases in which the consumption of gluten does not generate any symptoms, but it has done so and can do so again in other stages of life.

• Potential. In this case, the person does not have symptoms, or tests positive in any of the clinical tests, but has a genetic history of celiac disease.

Symptoms

As already noted, the range of symptoms is very wide. However, those that are considered typical or more common are the following :

• Loss of weight and appetite.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating.
• Loss of muscle mass.
• Changes in character (sadness, irritability, apathy).
• Abdominal pain.
• Fatigue.
• Meteorism.
• Growth retardation in children.
• Iron deficiency anemia.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by a careful clinical examination and a blood test. In this , the serological markers of celiac disease are established : anti-gliadin, anti-endomysium and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies.

If the result is positive, the diagnosis is of suspicion of the disease. To determine this with certainty, an intestinal biopsy should be performed.

Living with celiac disease

The only way to learn to live with celiac disease is by following a strict, gluten-free diet. This is not easy since this protein is not only in oats, wheat, barley and rye, but in countless manufactured products.

If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can live completely normal. After a while all the symptoms disappear and the organic lesions caused by celiac disease are repaired.

Some observations

• It is important to note that the improvement does not mean that gluten can be consumed again. This must be removed for life.
• In principle, flour and all its derivatives should be avoided, as well as any food that in its composition indicates the presence of gluten.

• Ideally , a celiac’s diet should be based on natural foods such as fruits, legumes, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, vegetables and gluten-free cereals (rice and corn).
• It is not advisable to consume processed or packaged foods. The ingestion of bread, pasta and beer should be completely eliminated.

Now we know a little more in depth what celiac disease consists of. If we have any doubts that we may suffer from it, we should go to our family doctor.