Leaky Gut Syndrome - Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as leaky gut syndrome, is an intolerance to gluten, a protein in some types of grain. It is an autoimmune disease, rather than a food allergy. Celiac disease is characterized by abdominal distress, poor digestion and other gastrointestinal complaints.

Causes

• Celiac disease is thought to be hereditary and can occur in children and adults. It can occur suddenly after surgery, infection, stress, pregnancy or childbirth or for no apparent reason. Approximately one in 133 people have celiac disease.

Symptoms

• The main symptoms of celiac disease are gastrointestinal and can include chronic bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation. Other symptoms may include weight gain or loss, anemia, bone or joint pain or intensely itchy skin accompanied by blisters, called dermatitis herpetiformis, as well as a wide variety of other symptoms. Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as another ailment.

  Irritability is a common symptom in children, while non-digestive ailments, such as anemia, fatigue, arthritis or depression, tend to appear in adults.

Diagnosis

• Celiac disease is diagnosed through a blood test. It is important to get tested rather than self-diagnosing this ailment. A proper test must be obtained after eating products containing gluten.

Treatment

• Following a gluten-free diet is the only treatment option for people with celiac disease. Gluten is found in most wheat products, as well as rye, barley, triticale and a few other less popular grains. Many gluten-free products are labeled with the letters GF or say they are gluten-free on the label.

Warnings

• It is important to get a diagnosis early as celiac disease can damage the intestines long before symptoms appear. Having a relative with celiac disease greatly increases the odds that you might get it.

  People with celiac disease should become familiar with food labels and the different ways gluten can show up. If food was prepared using the same equipment as a gluten-containing food, the protein could be present. Gluten can be present in candy, chips, fries, soy sauce, tortilla chips and soups, among other unexpected foods.