| When Survivor contestant turned talk-show host | | | | Delayed growth or onset of puberty |
| Elisabeth Hasselbeck went public about her | | | | Failure to thrive (in infants) |
| diagnosis of celiac disease and her subsequent | | | | Missed menstrual periods |
| gluten-free diet, it did a lot to raise awareness of | | | | Infertility (male and female) |
| the disease - one that experts estimate affects | | | | Spontaneous miscarriages |
| one in 100 people. | | | | Canker sores inside the mouth |
| But in raising awareness, Hasselbeck may have | | | | Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel |
| inadvertently given some people the wrong | | | | Diagnosis dilemma |
| impression: that eliminating gluten from your diet is | | | | If celiac disease is so widespread, why aren't |
| a sure-fire key to weight loss. | | | | more people diagnosed with it? It's for a number |
| A gluten-free diet isn't a guaranteed way to lose | | | | of different reasons. One is that physicians were |
| weight. A lot of people on a gluten-free diet | | | | taught that celiac disease was rare and only in |
| actually gain weight. Many gluten-free products | | | | children. That meant when a patient came in |
| contain more fat and sugar than other items, she | | | | displaying a number of symptoms of celiac |
| adds, so going gluten free without a diagnosis of | | | | disease, it did not automatically jump to the |
| celiac disease is not a recommended method for | | | | forefront as a possible condition. |
| weight loss. | | | | The other problem is that tests to diagnose it are |
| There are also other myths and misconceptions | | | | still imperfect. Often, the first test is a blood test, |
| about celiac disease. Many still believe it's a rare | | | | which only detects the more extreme cases of it |
| condition that only children can get. Here's the | | | | and not those with less damage to the small |
| straight truth about it. | | | | intestines. It is also possible to get a false |
| What is celiac disease? | | | | negative response with a blood test. |
| Celiac disease is an inherited digestive disorder | | | | The second test is a gastrointestinal biopsy, which |
| where specific proteins found in wheat, barley and | | | | is a much more definitive diagnosis. However, |
| rye (known as gluten) damage a person's small | | | | even that is imperfect. If the test doesn't take |
| intestine so they cannot properly absorb the | | | | enough samples of the intestines (at least four to |
| nutrients in the food they eat. | | | | six samples), you could end up with a false |
| Medical experts used to believe it was very rare, | | | | negative result. It is estimated that 20 percent of |
| affecting approximately one in 10,000 people and | | | | these biopsies are done incorrectly. |
| mostly occurring in young children. That's been | | | | Finally, for the test to be accurate, the person |
| proven false in recent years, says Case, and it's | | | | must still be consuming gluten. If someone has |
| now estimated that one in 100 have celiac disease | | | | gone on a pre-emptive gluten-free diet, the tests |
| and, what's worse, only five to 10 per cent of | | | | results could come back negative. |
| those are actually diagnosed with it. | | | | If you suspect celiac disease |
| It can also occur in anyone, at any age. It can be | | | | If you suspect you might have celiac disease, do |
| triggered by a viral or gastrointestinal infection, | | | | NOT stop eating gluten. Celiac disease is not |
| pregnancy, severe stress or surgery. | | | | something you should ever self-diagnose. If you |
| If left untreated, celiac disease can cause | | | | suspect you have it, go to your doctor and ask |
| nutritional deficiencies and increase the risk of | | | | to be tested. |
| osteoporosis, intestinal cancers, neurological | | | | Remember that the tests are imperfect. If at |
| disorders, infertility, as well as possible | | | | first you get a negative result but you still |
| development of other autoimmune disorders. It | | | | suspect it, try to find a health care practitioner |
| has also been known to occur in combination with | | | | who is familiar with the condition to ensure you |
| Type I diabetes, auto-immune thyroid disease, | | | | get the most accurate test possible. |
| autoimmune hepatitis, Down's syndrome and | | | | And if the tests still come back negative, you |
| Turner syndrome. | | | | may have something known as non-celiac gluten |
| What are the symptoms of celiac disease? There | | | | sensitivity. That means you still need to avoid |
| are many, and they can vary widely from | | | | gluten, but it will not damage your intestines in the |
| individual to individual. They include: | | | | same way as someone with celiac disease. It's |
| Recurring bloating, gas, or abdominal pain | | | | important to know if it's celiac or not because if |
| Chronic diarrhea or constipation or both | | | | someone with celiac doesn't follow the diet |
| Unexplained weight loss or weight gain | | | | exactly, he or she is at a very high risk of |
| Pale, foul-smelling stool | | | | developing complications and other serious |
| Unexplained anemia | | | | diseases. |
| Bone or joint pain | | | | Finally, if you are diagnosed with celiac, see a |
| Behavior changes/depression/irritability | | | | dietitian to help you create a gluten-free eating |
| Vitamin K Deficiency | | | | plan. |
| Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy | | | | |