Some Have Celiac Disease Unknowingly

Many U.S. adults and children may suffer unknowingly from celiac disease, an inability to digest gluten in wheat, barley, rye and oats.

Celiac disease is an inherited disorder and because it has such a wide variety of symptoms, it is often difficult to diagnose, says Jean Guest, a registered dietitian consultant to the Celiac Sprue Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with celiac disease.

It’s important to diagnose celiac disease as soon as possible because if left untreated it can lead to serious health problems, such as anemia and osteoporosis, as well as related autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Part of the difficulty in diagnosing celiac disease is that there are more than 20 different symptoms associated with the disorder including: diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, fatigue, painful joints, among others. Once diagnosed, the only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a lifelong gluten-free diet — avoiding all wheat, barley, rye and oats and foods that contain them.

However, there are many gluten-free choices available to people with celiac disease.