Celiac disease is more than just bloating, gas, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms of the disease include but are not limited to joint pain, unexplained weight loss, the inability to gain weight, fatigue, weak bones, and irritability. In honor of October being celiac disease awareness month, test your knowledge of this disease by choosing “myth” or “fact” for the statements below:
Myth or Fact: Everyone has some degree of gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is just a more severe sensitivity.
MYTH This is one of the biggest myths about celiac disease. A lot of attention is paid to gluten these days, and because of that, “gluten sensitivity” is often used interchangeably with gluten intolerance, a.k.a. celiac disease. In fact, celiac disease is a serious immune disorder. The bodies of people with celiac disease treat gluten as an invader and reject it, causing illness, weight loss, and more serious problems.
Myth or Fact: Celiac disease strikes randomly and there’s no way to predict whether or not you will suffer from it.
MYTH Celiac disease is genetic. Up to 22% of people with celiac disease have a close relative who also has the condition. Even so, it may have gone undiagnosed in your family, so even though you are not aware of any family members with the disease doesn’t mean it’s not hiding in the family tree somewhere.
Myth or Fact: There is no cure for celiac disease.
FACT Unfortunately, there’s no cure. There’s no pill or shot or magic bullet to combat the disease. The good news is, once you’ve been diagnosed, you can take steps to change your lifestyle and eating habits to eliminate gluten so that you no longer suffer the symptoms.
Myth or Fact: Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
FACT Celiac disease may be the tip of an iceberg of health problems. That’s why early intervention and lifestyle adjustments are crucial to living a healthy life.
Myth or Fact: Celiac disease is rare.
MYTH About one percent of the population has celiac disease. That number is expected to grow in the coming years as more awareness is brought to this condition. As it is, an estimated 60 percent of people who have celiac disease don’t know they have it.
If you have experienced any of the symptoms above, or if you know a family member who has celiac disease, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Catch celiac disease early to avoid a lot of hardship and start living a better life sooner!
Suffering from bloating, bathroom problems, fatigue, weight loss, or any other symptom of celiac disease? Make an appointment with one of our skilled gastroenterologists by calling 887-422-7762 or visit giassoc.org today.