| Poor nutrition is a concern that affects many people, | | | | ? Abdominal bloating |
| but did you know that as many as 1 in every 133 | | | | ? Abnormalities in stool, such as fattiness, unusually foul |
| Americans (or 2 million in the continental United States) | | | | odors, or discoloration |
| suffer from a special kind of nutritional disorder called | | | | Adults may exhibit some of these signs, though it is far |
| celiac disease that can lead to a variety of other | | | | less common. Usually, celiac disease manifests itself in |
| health problems? | | | | one or more of the following ways: |
| Once thought to be a disease that affected only a | | | | ? Fatigue |
| rare few is now known to be much more common. | | | | ? Arthritis |
| And while that does not bode well for those that | | | | ? Depression or anxiety |
| suffer from its effects, it has led to a greater | | | | ? Seizures |
| understanding of celiac disease that is aiding (and will | | | | ? Sores inside of mouth |
| continue to do so) the treatment effort. | | | | ? Skin rashes |
| What Is Celiac Disease? | | | | ? Numbness of the feet and hands |
| For those who have never heard of celiac disease, | | | | ? Osteoporosis |
| here is how it works: quite simply, celiac disease is a | | | | ? Pain in bones or joints |
| disorder of the digestive system that inflicts damage to | | | | ? Unexplained iron deficiencies in blood (or anemia) |
| the small intestine and prevents proper absorption of | | | | Keep in mind these symptoms are not automatic |
| nutrients. People afflicted have a particularly difficult | | | | indicators you carry the disease. Awareness of family |
| time digesting gluten, which is a protein in wheat, rye, | | | | medical history is extremely helpful, and consultation |
| and barley. More specifically, celiac disease damages | | | | with your doctor is essential. It is important for you to |
| the villi, or protrusions of the small intestine lining that aid | | | | realize that celiac disease does not have to rule your |
| in absorption. As a result, no matter how much an | | | | life. There are treatments available, but you must take |
| individual eats, he or she will remain malnourished. | | | | advantage of them. Oftentimes, a gluten-free diet |
| What Triggers Celiac Disease? | | | | helps you to live a normal life, free of the long-term |
| While celiac disease is a genetic disorder, certain | | | | effects, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, |
| factors can trigger it. You can expect celiac disease to | | | | and autoimmune thyroid and liver diseases. |
| become active, if it runs in the family and is not | | | | But it is just as important for you to realize that celiac |
| immediately noticeable, after events such as surgery, | | | | disease is a condition, which can lead to more harmful |
| infection, stress, pregnancy, or childbirth. | | | | long-term effects. By knowing the limits of your body, |
| Children and adults can exhibit symptoms of the | | | | and the proper nutritional information for how to deal |
| disease differently. In children, signs such as these | | | | with celiac disease, you place yourself at less risk. For |
| could raise the flag: | | | | more information on understanding celiac disease, visit |
| ? Chronic diarrhea | | | | our website, where you will find more details on what |
| ? Vomiting | | | | is celiac disease: how it affects you, how you can |
| ? Constipation | | | | specifically fight back, and what to expect in both short |
| ? Excessive weight loss | | | | and long terms. |