If you suspect that you may haveceliac diseaseor an intolerance to gluten, it’s important to take action now. Studies show that the longer the length of time before a celiac diagnosis, the greater the chance of developing serious health risks. I dedicate much of my time towards raising support and awareness for the celiac community and funds for theCeliac Disease Research Centerat the Columbia University Medical Center, headed by Dr. Peter Green, MD.Celiac disease(also spelledcoeliac) is an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction togluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. An estimated 300 million Americans have it and only three percent of them know it, Dr. Green estimates. Through my work as achildren’s authorand through my informativegluten-free website, my goal is to raise awareness about the symptoms of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity and to help people to get correctly diagnosed.
Untreated celiac disease can actually be life-threatening. Celiac people are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynecological disorders. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma.
The diagnosis isn’t difficult to test for. Simple blood tests detect the disease over ninety percent of the time. The diagnosis is then confirmed by an upper endoscopy; a small, flexible tube is slipped into the mouth of the sedated patient, down his esophagus and stomach and into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, where biopsies are taken and then examined for changes seen inceliac disease.
Perhaps even easier than testing for diagnosis is the treatment of the disease—agluten-free diet. It is challenging and requires a lifestyle change, but with more and moregluten-free substitutesandgluten-free recipesavailable, adopting a gluten-free diet and gluten free cooking is easier than ever. There's research into developing a pill that would help people with celiac disease, as well. With such a simple treatment, there’s no reason to wait to get diagnosed because you can relieve yourself of your symptoms so easily.
Don’t assume that your symptoms are unique to you. For much of my life, I just thought that it was just normal for me to be in pain. People with osteoporosis, for example, say that their condition “runs in the family,” ignoring the fact that osteoporosis is often connected to celiac disease, which prevents the absorption of the vitamins and minerals that bones need. You can take a look at the list ofsymptomsof gluten intolerance and celiac disease at my website.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, even if you think you know why, you should schedule an appointment with your physician right away to get tested for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Tina Turbin
If you suspect that you may haveceliac diseaseor an intolerance to gluten, it’s important to take action now. Studies show that the longer the length of time before a celiac diagnosis, the greater the chance of developing serious health risks.I dedicate much of my time towards raising support and awareness for the celiac community and funds for theCeliac Disease Research Centerat the Columbia University Medical Center, headed by Dr. Peter Green, MD.Celiac disease(also spelledcoeliac) is an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction togluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. An estimated 300 million Americans have it and only three percent of them know it, Dr. Green estimates. Through my work as achildren’s authorand through my informativegluten-free website, my goal is to raise awareness about the symptoms of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity and to help people to get correctly diagnosed.
Untreated celiac disease can actually be life-threatening. Celiac people are more likely to be afflicted with problems relating to malabsorption, including osteoporosis, tooth enamel defects, central and peripheral nervous system disease, pancreatic disease, internal hemorrhaging, organ disorders (gall bladder, liver, and spleen), and gynecological disorders. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially intestinal lymphoma.
The diagnosis isn’t difficult to test for. Simple blood tests detect the disease over ninety percent of the time. The diagnosis is then confirmed by an upper endoscopy; a small, flexible tube is slipped into the mouth of the sedated patient, down his esophagus and stomach and into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, where biopsies are taken and then examined for changes seen inceliac disease.
Perhaps even easier than testing for diagnosis is the treatment of the disease—agluten-free diet. It is challenging and requires a lifestyle change, but with more and moregluten-free substitutesandgluten-free recipesavailable, adopting a gluten-free diet and gluten free cooking is easier than ever. There's research into developing a pill that would help people with celiac disease, as well. With such a simple treatment, there’s no reason to wait to get diagnosed because you can relieve yourself of your symptoms so easily.
Don’t assume that your symptoms are unique to you. For much of my life, I just thought that it was just normal for me to be in pain. People with osteoporosis, for example, say that their condition “runs in the family,” ignoring the fact that osteoporosis is often connected to celiac disease, which prevents the absorption of the vitamins and minerals that bones need. You can take a look at the list ofsymptomsof gluten intolerance and celiac disease at my website.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, even if you think you know why, you should schedule an appointment with your physician right away to get tested for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Tina Turbin