Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that has a chronic nature and is caused by ingestion of gluten with destruction of the lining of the small intestine. Celiac disease is under- and overdiagnosed and impacts the lives of millions of individuals worldwide. Upon ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, by celiac patients, their immune system disables the lining of their small intestine and they become unable to absorb nutrients.

Either you just learned that you are diagnosed, believe you have the symptoms, or have a friend who is gluten-intolerant, this book will lead you through to discover what is celiac disease, symptoms, causes, diagnostic process, celiac disease treatment procedures, and how to live with the disease.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmunity that results from eating gluten. In celiac, eating gluten prompts the immune system to destroy the villi, finger-like structures that line the small intestine wall and part of the nutrient absorption process.

Over time, this sort of damage stops the absorption of necessary nutrients and causes long-term sickness. Celiac disease is almost identical to gluten intolerance, except that the immune tissue is healthy while symptoms will be identical.

You can be screened for it in one of the appendixes at any time and also transmit it to your children. So if there is a factor of heredity, your chances of developing it are much higher, so the question now becomes: Is celiac disease hereditary? And the answer is a definite yes. Susceptibility is gene-dependent to a great extent.

Common Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Symptoms of celiac disease in patients varies greatly and therefore cannot be diagnosed on symptoms. Individuals may present with the typical gastrointestinal symptoms or no symptoms at all. Knowing how to test for celiac disease is important.

Symptoms related to the digestive system:

  • Chronic diarrhea or constipation
  • Gas and bloating
  • Abdominal cramps and pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Off-colored, odorous stool
Non-digestive symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Iron-deficiency anemia
  • Arthritis-type pain in joints
  • Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Infertility or miscarriage
  • Depression or anxiety
Delayed development, irritability, failure to thrive, and impaired learning are presentation of celiac disease in children. Symptomatic celiac disease carriers with low intestine mucosal damage stress the need for proper screening.

Causes of Celiac Disease

Multifactorial causes of celiac disease is genetic, environmental, and immunological.

  • Genetic susceptibility: The individual carrying specific genes (HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8) becomes vulnerable to develop celiac disease.
  • Ingestion of gluten: Ingestion of gluten food stimulates the immune system.
  • Dysfunction immune response: Immune response recognizes gluten as harmful stimulus and mounts inappropriate response against the low intestine.
  • Environmental factors: Infection, stress, or disturbance of gut microbiota may have a role in induction of disease in predisposed hosts with genetic susceptibility.
The disease might be linked to another autoimmune diseases like celiac, e.g., Type 1 diabetes or thyroid disease.


How Celiac Disease Is Diagnosed

Celiac disease is diagnosed on a clinical basis according to history, symptoms, and tests. That is what one has to do to have a test for celiac disease:

Celiac Disease Blood Test

The initial test is usually most commonly a serological test that is looking for antibodies present in individuals with celiac. The commonest tests are:

  • tTG-IgA (tissue transglutaminase antibodies)
  • EMA-IgA (endomysial antibodies)

Endoscopy with Biopsy

If the blood test for celiac disease is positive, a higher endoscopy is commonly advised. During the procedure, a biopsy of a small intestine tissue sample is retrieved to be tested if villi are suspected.

Genetic Testing

It is used to exclude celiac when predisposing genes (HLA-DQ2/DQ8) are unfavorable, particularly when the test result is uncertain.
Note: You should replace a gluten diet before testing not to yield false negatives. Never begin with a gluten-free diet before you finish the test process.

Gluten-Free Treatment and Dietary Change

Spartan gluten-free diet treatment for the remainder of one's life is alone and effective therapy of celiac disease. Foods to avoid with celiac disease must be known.
What to Avoid:

  • Avoid wheat, barley, rye, and malt products with celiac disease.
  • Steer clear of what seems to be concealed sources in soups, sauces, desserts, dressing, and processed foods.
What to Eat:

  • Nature foods with gluten-free qualities such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, rice, quinoa, and agency-authorized gluten-free cereals.
  • Processed foods with gluten-free such as pasta, bread, mixture of flour, and snack food.

Cross-contamination is a main concern

Toasting bread crumbs or plain raw cutting boards may cause an allergy. Gluten and gluten-free pots and cooking utensils will have to be stored in households where both gluten and gluten-free food is prepared.

Complications of Untreated Celiac Disease

Untreated celiac disease results in serious long-term effects of celiac and medical complications. They are:

  • Malnutrition from faulty nutrient absorption
  • Osteoporosis due to a lack of calcium and vitamin D
  • Infertility due to pregnancy complications
  • Seizure side effects or neuropathy
  • Risk of intestinal lymphoma
  • Liver disease
  • Childhood growth disorders
Complications of celiac are chronic unless it's caught early.

Living Well with Celiac Disease

Celiac is overwhelming at the beginning but conquered with learning and experience. The key to success is:

Learn to Read Labels

Know food labeling law and read labels on foods containing gluten even on non-foods like lip balm and prescriptions.

Get Support

Join internet celiac forums or community forums to share posts with others and get suggestions and tips on gluten-free food.

Travel Smart

Take snacks, find gluten-free restaurants, and have stock phrases handy when traveling.

Get a Dietitian

See a celiac dietitian and have him or her create the best gluten-free diet for celiac that will meet all the nutritional needs.

Plan Ahead of Social Events

  • With dining out, parties, and social events, plan ahead so they are:
  • Not having any accidental contact with gluten at all.
Within a few weeks, it will be second nature to eat gluten-free and most will realize that they will be healthier than they've been in years once the gut starts healing.

Conclusion

Celiac disease is not an allergy. It's an autoimmune disease that must be treated very seriously. The damage caused by the gluten of the celiac patient can find a million other diseases if it's not being intermitted in due time. With so few pieces of information about what is celiac disease, its symptoms, and keeping a strict gluten-free diet, the dissatisfied patient can live a normal, full life.

The cure is early celiac disease diagnosis, counseling, and education. If you think that your family member probably has it and you probably have it too, go get tested and get a few of the tests done. The earlier celiac is diagnosed, the sooner healing occurs.

Please book an appointment with the best Gastroenterologists in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find the verified doctor for your disease.