However, celiac disease is much more than a digestive problem. Some of the top atypical symptoms are anemia, bones disease, elevated liver enzymes, neurological problems like migraines, short stature and reproductive problems.
Signs and symptoms of celiac disease may range from severe to mild. It is also possible to have celiac disease without any symptoms at all. Many adults with subtle disease only have fatigue and anemia, or may have only vague abdominal discomfort such as bloating, abdominal distension and excess gas.
Some people with celiac disease have no symptoms at all, but still test positive on the celiac disease blood test. Others may have a negative blood test, but have a positive intestinal biopsy. However, all people with celiac disease are at risk for long-term complications, whether or not they display any symptoms.
Silent celiac disease occurs when people do not have the typical digestive symptoms of the condition when they consume gluten. While a person may not have symptoms (or even an official diagnosis) of celiac, the damage to the intestines from the disease is still taking place.
Ocular conditions associated with celiac disease include: Dry eyes: Dry eyes develop when you cannot produce adequate tears to keep your eye moist. Dry eyes related to celiac disease may develop from a vitamin A deficiency. Cataracts: Cataracts may also develop due to malnutrition.
It may also affect the face and groin. Many people feel an intense need to scratch itchy or burning areas. Stomach inflammation and damage to the small intestine are common reactions in people with gluten sensitivity. These reactions usually develop a few days after a person ingests gluten.
However, more than half the adults with celiac disease have signs and symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, including: Anemia, usually from iron deficiency. Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) or softening of bone (osteomalacia) Itchy, blistery skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
“They don't realize, for example, that celiac disease can cause weight gain as well as weight loss, so they often don't even consider referring overweight or obese patients for testing. Even when patients are referred, some won't get expensive tests such as endoscopies if there's a high out-of-pocket expense.”
The five major illnesses associated with gluten are celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, gluten ataxia, and dermatitis herpetiformis. Each is distinct, but all are related and manageable.
Celiac disease (CeD) is usually considered to lead to undernutrition and low weight both in children and adults; in recent times, however, many patients with CeD are found to be not only overweight but some even being obese [1].
People who develop celiac disease later in life can have eaten gluten for many years without having a negative reaction. Studies suggest that a shift could be caused by the body reaching its breaking point after a lifetime of eating gluten. Stress and other environmental conditions may also be a part of the change.
Most patients predicted that their worst symptoms when exposed to gluten would be classic lower digestive problems like diarrhea, bloating and cramps. However, none of these occurred during the acute immune responses observed by Anderson's team. Instead, patients experienced nausea and vomiting.
People with celiac disease can't tolerate gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. For most celiac patients, the symptoms are obvious: gas, bloating, and stomach distress. But some patients exhibit symptoms they'd never guess were linked to celiac disease.
Gluten belly, also known as wheat belly, is a common phrase that refers to stomach swelling after eating gluten as a result of bloating. Along with bloating, one may also develop symptoms such as stomach pain, flatulence, or irregular bowel movements.
“There are some instances where blood tests are borderline positive or mildly positive,” Adams added, “and the patient doesn't actually have celiac disease.” A positive blood test but a negative biopsy could indicate a different autoimmune disease and warrant further testing, Adams explained.
If I have celiac disease but no symptoms, can I still eat gluten? No. Even if symptoms don't appear, the ingestion of gluten still damages the intestines and also increases your risk for various complications like cancers and osteoporosis.
When a celiac person ingests gluten, his or her immune system will attack against its own body's tissue. Whereas, if a person is gluten intolerant, the consumption of gluten will cause short-term bloating and belly pain. Unlike celiac disease, gluten intolerance doesn't usually cause long-term harm to the body.
Overweight people can definitely have celiac disease. The myth that all people with celiac disease are thin is one that turns out to be pretty far from the truth.
Celiac disease can be painful. Some common pain symptoms are: Stomach pain or swelling (bloating) that keeps coming back. Muscle cramps or bone pain.
If you're extremely sensitive to even trace amounts of gluten, you may experience symptoms within minutes of ingestion – similar to an allergy. In many cases, however, symptoms don't develop until one to twelve hours after exposure. For some, symptoms take days or even weeks to manifest.
Celiac disease is clinically defined as classic, non-classic, subclinical, potential, and refractory.
It's thought that the inflammatory response that begins in the gut's reaction to gluten then spreads to other parts of the body, which in turn can result in acne. This kind of immune response also triggers the release of insulin, which results in raised hormone levels, another cause of acne.
Tooth defects resulting from celiac disease are permanent and do not improve after adopting a gluten-free diet—the primary treatment for celiac disease. However, dentists may use bonding, veneers, and other cosmetic solutions to cover dental enamel defects in older children and adults.
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 greater risk for cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.
People with celiac disease may experience weight gain after starting a gluten-free diet; this initial weight gain indicates that their intestinal health is improving and they are more effectively absorbing nutrients. However, gaining too much weight can lead to multiple health problems.