A relatively recent acquaintance of mine took me out to lunch, and was very excited to see that we were near a P.F. Chang’s restaurant — because they offer a gluten free menu. My friend has celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac sprue, or simply wheat allergy.
The real culprit isn’t wheat but the gluten — proteins found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Celiac disease is actually an immune system disorder; when a person with celiac eats foods with glutens, the glutens cause damage to the lining of the small intestines. This damage makes it hard for the body to absorb nutrients like calcium, iron, and folate.
Doctors don’t know the exact cause of celiac disease, but you have a good chance of developing it if a parent or sibling has it. If you are genetically predisposed to have celiac disease, environmental factors and viral or bacterial infections can change your immune system, resulting in celiac disease.
So what happens if a person with celiac disease eats something with gluten in it? Symptoms include gas, bloating, abnormal stool, fatigue, weakness, and vomiting. All these together can lead to dramatic weight loss. The intensity of the symptoms vary from one person to another; the more sensitive you are, the worse your symptoms may be. What actually causes the symptoms is the damage done to the small intestines by the glutens.
Over the long term, celiac disease can contribute to osteoporosis and other bone problems because of decreased calcium absorption. It may also leave the person infertile or unable to menstruate; in children with celiac disease, the onset of puberty may be delayed. Irritability and depression, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and frequent respiratory infections can all develop as a result of celiac disease.
The main treatment for celiac disease is excluding all foods that contain gluten from the diet. Even a small amount of gluten can cause serious (and uncomfortable) reactions. Approximately seventy percent of people find that a gluten-free diet improves things dramatically within two weeks.
Celiac disease is sometimes confused with IBS, delaying a correct diagnosis.
Not sure what that stomachache is? Try aromatherapy to ease the pain.