{"id":2058,"date":"2018-08-14T04:09:03","date_gmt":"2018-08-14T04:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=2058"},"modified":"2021-05-19T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T16:00:00","slug":"11-easy-to-miss-celiac-disease-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/11-easy-to-miss-celiac-disease-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Easy to Miss Celiac Disease Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A gluten free diet is becoming more and more common. Gluten is a protein that is found in grains such as barley, wheat, rye, spelt. While some people are choosing to avoid gluten for personal reasons, there are others who truly have an issue digesting gluten. Celiac disease can cause an immune response to be triggered in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person that is suffering from this disorder will experience inflammation and may end up with damage being done to the small intestine. It is estimated that in the United States nearly one percent of the population is affected by celiac disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celiac disease is quite a serious condition and can cause a number of negative symptoms. These symptoms include nutritional deficiencies and digestive problems. There are several symptoms of celiac disease that are quite easy to miss. Here are eleven of the common and easy to miss symptoms of celiac disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first symptoms that a person suffering from celiac disease experiences is loose, watery stools. In a small study that was conducted almost 80 percent of patients diagnosed with celiac reported that they experienced diarrhea before they received treatment for the disorder. After receiving treatment, the number of patients who continued to experience chronic diarrhea <\/a>dropped to just 17 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another small study noted that diarrhea is the most frequent symptom in patients with untreated celiac disease. For most people who suffer from celiac disease, treatment can help to alleviate diarrhea. It is important to note that just because you are suffering from diarrhea does not mean that you have celiac disease. There are many reasons that a person may develop diarrhea such as an infection, intestinal issues, and other food intolerances. If you suffer from diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, it is important to see a doctor to determine the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Bloating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of celiac disease is bloating<\/a>. This is another symptom that is often written off by people experiencing it. Bloating can be caused by any number of things, which is why many people tend to ignore this symptom when it appears. Celiac disease causes the digestive tract to become inflamed. When the digestive tract is inflamed, it may cause a person to feel bloated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, this inflammation can cause several other adverse issues with the digestive tract. There have been several studies conducted that report that the majority of individuals who suffer from celiac disease experience bloating. This bloated feeling may last for several days at a time. When gluten is removed from the diet of a person with celiac disease, the bloating tends to disappear. In fact, even people who do not have celiac disease may experience bloating that is caused by gluten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Gas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Excessive gas <\/a>is a common problem for many people. This can be caused by almost anything, especially the foods that you eat. Once again, this is a symptom of celiac disease that is often ignored simply because it is a fairly common issue. Excessive gas is one of the most common symptoms for people suffering from celiac disease. In fact, many people who have celiac disease will experience gassiness after they have eaten any type of gluten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that there are numerous causes of gas. Some of the more common reasons a person may experience gas include indigestion, constipation, or simply swallowing air. Some conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance may also cause a person to become extra gassy. If you are truly struggling with excessive gas and also have some of the other symptoms on this list, make sure to discuss them with your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people confuse being tired with feeling fatigued. While a person can become fatigued from simple lack of sleep, it is actually different than just feeling tired. A person suffering from fatigue <\/a>will feel exhausted all of the time and this exhaustion leads to a total feeling of lethargy. People who suffer from celiac disease often feel fatigued and are also more likely to experience sleep disorders. When celiac disease is left untreated it can cause the small intestine to become damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the small intestine is damaged it can result in mineral and vitamin deficiencies. This may lead to the fatigue as well. While chronic fatigue is a common symptom of celiac, it can also be caused by several other issues as well. Some other potential causes for fatigue include thyroid problems, infections, anemia, and depression. If you are feeling fatigued all of the time it is important to be tested for different illnesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Weight Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the early signs of celiac disease is a sudden drop of weight. In addition, a person suffering from celiac disease may also find it difficult to keep weight on. The reason for this sudden weight loss<\/a> is because the body\u2019s ability to absorb nutrients becomes impaired when suffering from this disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inability to absorb nutrients can lead to the loss of weight and malnutrition. One study of just over a hundred celiac patients found that about 23 percent were affected by weight loss. Another study of elderly people who were diagnosed with the disorder found that weight loss was one of the most common symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other reasons that a person may experience sudden weight loss. Conditions such as depression, diabetes, thyroid issues, and cancer may all cause a person to lose weight. If you suddenly start to lose weight without an explanation, talk to your doctor right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Iron Deficiency Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned celiac disease<\/a> can impair the body\u2019s ability to absorb nutrients. This inability to absorb certain nutrients can lead to other health issues. One issue that may arise is iron deficiency anemia. This condition is caused by a shortage of red blood cells in the body. Some of the symptoms of this disorder include weakness, chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several studies that have been conducted on people who suffer from celiac disease have found that they also suffer from iron deficiency anemia. While there may be a correlation between celiac disease and iron deficiency anemia, it is important to note that there are other conditions that may cause this iron deficiency as well. Some of these include peptic ulcers, heavy menstrual bleeding, and a poor diet. If you suffer from the symptoms associated with anemia, it is important to discuss them with your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Constipation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While it is quite common for someone suffering from celiac disease to develop chronic diarrhea, there are some people that the disorder has the opposite effect on and causes them to experience constipation<\/a>. Once again, constipation is an easy symptom to miss when it comes to celiac disease because it can be caused by many different digestive issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intestinal villi are often damaged by celiac disease. These villi are little finger like projections that are quite tiny. They are located in the small intestine and help to absorb nutrients. When food travels through the digestive tract the villi cannot absorb the nutrients fully when they are damaged. When this happens extra moisture from the stool is often absorbed. This can lead to stool that is hard and difficult to pass, which results in constipation. Even when a person with celiac disease is on a strict gluten free diet, constipation can be difficult to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time people associate celiac disease with the physical symptoms that it may cause. However, people who suffer from celiac disease may also experience psychological symptoms as well. Depression<\/a> among those who suffer from the disorder is actually quite high. There have been several studies that have found that the average rate of depression among those suffering from celiac disease is much higher than the average for the general population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depression is another symptom of celiac disease that is often missed because it can be caused by so many different issues. Stress, genetics, grief, and changes in hormone levels are all common causes of depression. Anyone who is feeling symptoms of depression should seek medical attention right away, especially if they are considering causing harm to themselves. While celiac disease could be one of the underlying causes of depression, there are many other causes of it as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Rashes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At one point or another almost everyone has had some type of rash <\/a>on their skin. There are numerous things that may cause a skin rash to develop. Everything from hives to coming in contact with certain plants and chemicals may cause the skin to break out. People who suffer from celiac disease may develop a rash that is quite itchy and blistering. Most of the time the rash caused by celiac disease will appear on the knees, buttocks, and elbows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rash is often what leads to a diagnosis of celiac disease. In fact, there are some people who will develop this itchy skin rash associated with the disorder and not have any of the digestive issues that are common with the celiac disease. If you develop an itchy skin rash and have some of the other symptoms on this list, it is important to see your doctor right away for a proper diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Difficulty Concentrating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A person who is suffering from celiac disease may experience what is known as brain fog<\/a>. This often will occur after they consume products containing gluten. Most of the time, a person will experience this difficulty concentrating or brain fog almost immediately after eating something with gluten in it. The brain fog may continue for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person may feel confused, have difficulty concentrating, and may even experience short term memory loss. Fortunately, as gluten is removed from the diet, this symptom will go away. Brain fog is another symptom of celiac disease that may go unnoticed by some people. The reason is that it is easy to write off being forgetful or not being able to concentrate because of being busy or not getting enough sleep. If you notice that this brain fog occurs after eating certain foods, cut these foods from your diet and discuss your symptom with your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. No Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps one of the worst things about celiac disease is that there are some people who suffer from the illness and simply do not have any symptoms at all. While this may seem like a good thing, it really is not as the disease is silently doing damage to the body. Damage to the intestines can happen, even if there are no symptoms present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are new screening techniques that are being used that can diagnose the disease even before a person experiences any type of symptom <\/a>from it. It is important to note that even if you are not suffering from any of the symptoms, but have been diagnosed with the disease that you are following a proper diet. Even someone without symptoms is at risk for further complications from celiac disease, including an increased risk of developing other diseases including certain types of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Abdominal Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the classic signs of celiac disease is abdominal pain associated with eating foods high in gluten <\/a>proteins. These pain symptoms occur gradually over time as the body becomes more resistant to fighting off the effects of gluten in the digestive system and stomach. Some patients suffering from the effects of celiac disease can\u2019t understand why they no longer have a tolerance for eating a pizza when they were okay with it a few months ago. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people who are suffering from celiac disease eat bread or pizza dough, the gastrointestinal system puts up a protest in the form of bloating, gas, and abdominal pain. This pain can last for several hours as the digestive system struggles to process the food. In some cases, the reaction to gluten can be so severe that the patient experiences an exacerbation of symptoms that lead to the development of other adverse health conditions, such as, \u201cleaky gut,\u201d where the intestinal wall expands, allowing toxins to pass through the wall and enter the bloodstream.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Gastrointestinal Reflux<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with celiac disease also experience problems withdigestion of gluten proteins in the stomach. As a result, the body increases its production of bile in the liver to accelerate the digestion process. Unfortunately, the extra bile produced by the liver can affect our digestion as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When excess bile enters the esophagus, the acidity of the stomach acids creates a burning sensation that most people will recognize as heartburn<\/a>. However, people with celiac disease may experience more intense symptoms, due to the excessive amounts of bile produced to combat the gluten. As a result, they may experience bouts of heartburn that last for several hours.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left unmanaged, people with celiac disease that continue to eat gluten proteins may experience the onset of GERD, a chronic condition where bile enters the esophagus due to a damaged esophageal sphincter. As a result, they may also develop a disease known as \u201cBarret\u2019s esophagus,\u201d where the stomach lining starts to grow in the lower area of the esophagus.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Stiff Joints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medical professionals recognize celiac disease as an inflammatory disorder affecting the digestive system. However, it\u2019s important to note that inflammation that starts in the gut, can spread to every other biological system in the body as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, people who have both celiac disease and bone diseases, such as arthritis and osteoporosis<\/a>, may notice an exacerbation in their symptoms after eating foods containing gluten. These symptoms may only show up a day after eating the gluten foods, and it may take several days for the inflammation to calm down to normal levels.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suffer from any inflammatory bone disease, we recommend that you try a ketogenic diet and avoid eating any form of carbohydrates in your diet. In some studies, the use of a ketogenic diet in people affected by celiac disease, reduce gluten sensitivity, returning the gastrointestinal system to normal. This type of diet relies on protein and fat to deliver energy to the body and eliminates carbs from your diet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>