May Is Celiac Awareness Month

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (and other relevant organizations). This event raises awareness about Celiac disease, and highlights the work of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) which provides support for those affected. The NFCA, in collaboration with scientists and other organizations, also supports research into Celiac disease.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease which damages the small intestine. The small intestine is part of the gut which digests and absorbs nutrients from food. When the small intestine is damaged, the rate of nutrient absorption from food is reduced. Celiac disease can affect people in many different ways and symptoms vary in severity. In many cases, there there are no noticeable symptoms, a person has “silent Celiac disease”.  There are a wide range of symptoms.  Some of the minor symptoms include:  indigestion, bloating, weight loss, and mild abdominal pain.  Major symptoms cause great discomfort and are more severe, and include stomach cramps, diarrhea and muscle spasms. People with Celiac disease are sensitive to gluten which triggers these symptoms. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye. Consumption of gluten can affect the whole body. Celiac Awareness Month also raises awareness about sensitivity to gluten, which can be attributed by many medical conditions such as the autoimmune conditions we treat in our office. Treatment for Celiac disease and gluten intolerance is straight forward; those affected are advised to avoid foods which contains gluten. This awareness event helps educate and inform the public about gluten free foods. However, it is not always easy to determine if a food item is gluten free; this event also encourages appropriate labeling on food items.

Many People Are Not Aware They May Have Celiac Disease

In the United States, approximately 3 million people have Celiac disease; 21 million people have this disease or are sensitive to gluten. Of the 3 million who have this disease only 5% know they have it. This awareness event aims, in part, to make more people aware that they may have this disease and that by eating gluten free foods, they can eliminate their symptoms.

We Can Help

Our office specializes in diagnosing and treating Celiac disease.  Contact our office to find out more about Celiac disease and about the specific tests we use to determine if you have Celiac Disease.  Call 704-987-3993.  ]]>