How Celiac Disease Affects the Body

As we all know, celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is also hereditary, meaning that it runs in families. Aside from those, it can develop at any age after people start eating foods or medicines that contain gluten. 

When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be adequately absorbed into the body. Undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease can lead to long-term health conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, early-onset osteoporosis or osteopenia, infertility and miscarriage, lactose intolerance, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Are you suspecting that you or your family members have celiac Disease? Here is the list of symptoms to help you:

Strange rashes on elbows and knees

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is the severe skin rash associated with celiac disease. Its symptoms are extremely itchy and blistering skin. Sometimes referred to as gluten rash or celiac rash, DH is a chronic condition that is considered to be the skin form of celiac disease.

Dental problems 

Celiac disease can cause dental enamel defects, delayed dental development, and more cavities in children. Patients of all ages have more frequent and severe outbreaks of canker sores. Those not on a gluten-free diet are at higher risk for cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.

Iron deficiency

Celiac disease can cause damage to the small intestine where iron, folate, and vitamin B12 are absorbed. The most common sign of celiac disease in adults is iron-deficiency anemia that is unresponsive to iron therapy. If you have had ongoing anemia and underlying medical conditions are ruled out, it is recommended that you ask a physician about testing for celiac disease. It is also recommended to test for celiac disease if you have been taking iron supplements and experience no improvement in blood iron levels.

Back pain

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition, so there may be some autoimmune reaction involved in the creation of low back pain. Or, perhaps generalized inflammation is at the root of the symptoms. Whatever the mechanism, the one study cited earlier suggests there is some inflammatory process at work in the spine of a vast majority of patients with celiac disease.

Weird stomach issues

Celiac disease can cause inflammation in the digestive tract, which may result in bloating as well as many other adverse digestive issues. One study of 1,032 adults with celiac disease found that bloating was one of the most common symptoms. 73% of people reported feeling bloated before being diagnosed with the condition

Another study showed that most patients with celiac disease experienced bloating. This symptom resolved effectively after they eliminated Gluten from their diets. Gluten has also been shown to cause digestive issues like bloating for people who don’t have celiac disease.

Depression and mood swings

A wide range of psychological problems can arise for those with untreated celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Initially, there may be a misdiagnosis of psychiatric illness due to some of the neurological and psychiatric symptoms that can be seen in untreated disease. Once diagnosed, there may be difficulty adjusting to a new diagnosis of chronic illness and adherence to a gluten-free diet. In patients with celiac disease, a 10-22% increased risk of neurological disorders is reported.

Shoulder goosebumps

For someone with celiac Disease, Gluten is capable of triggering a broad spectrum of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in predisposed individuals. You can get inflamed or allergic reactions pretty much anywhere on your body, and often they show up in your skin. If you have constant “goosebumps” on your shoulders, also called Keratosis pilaris, this can be one such response.

This is because the production of keratin is affected, and overproduced, in people with gluten intolerance and celiac disease.

Do you have celiac disease? The only relief is a gluten-free diet, and we can help you with that! We offer gluten-free products such as craft baked breads, rolls, pizza, and snackers. We promise to always keep you gluten-free.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided on this Site is provided for information purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, before undertaking any diet, exercise, other health program, or other procedure set out on this Site.