Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease has many symptoms which are a bit different for everyone who suffers from the disease. It is safe to say that no two people with celiac disease will have the exact same symptoms. Though celiac disease originates in the human digestive system, the symptoms of the disease are not always those that most people would associate with this area of the body. Many times, the symptoms that come to light in a patient depend a lot on how long they have had celiac disease. This can also affect how severe each person’s symptoms are.

There are some people who do not have “typical” celiac disease, and therefore, they do not have typical symptoms. This makes for a frustrating time, as the disease is so hard for a doctor to diagnose without the textbook symptoms. There are other people who have “silent” celiac disease, and do not have any symptoms whatsoever.

The usual symptoms of celiac disease are as follows –

• Cramping and bloating in the abdominal area
• Passing a great deal of gas
• Increased appetite
• Pain in the back
• Headache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Blood clotting problems
• Easily dehydrated
• Mouth Sores
• Irritability
• Dry skin
• Cramping muscles all over the body which become worse in the hands and legs
• An inability to see well at night
• Water retention
• Thinning bones that are prone to breakage
• Depression
• Lack of energy
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Tingling and numbness all over the body
• Weight Loss
• Tongue changes
• Skin rashes that are itchy
• Tooth enamel discoloration
• Delayed growth in children
• Anemia
• Inability to tolerate any food containing lactose
• Infertility
• Thyroid problems
• Diabetes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the bones and joints
• Loss of hair
• Malnutrition due to the inability to assimilate nutrients
• Nosebleeds
• Vitamin deficiency

As you can see, with a wide range of symptoms like this, it is hard to absolutely pinpoint just one as being “the” symptom of celiac disease. It can be easier to spot celiac disease in children, as their growth can be affected due to lack of nutrition. People with this disease do not properly absorb the nutrients that are found in their food. In adults, usually one or more of these symptoms are present.

You must remember that all of the above symptoms occur because of the damage done to the small intestine from the gluten in the diet of the celiac disease sufferers. Gluten is a form of protein that is found in most of the grains we use for food. When those who have celiac disease eat any food that contains gluten, their body revolts! An autoimmune response is sent through the body, and the small intestine is damaged by it. This makes the small intestine unable to do what it was meant to do –absorb the nutrients from food.

The best and easiest way for those who have celiac disease to control their symptoms is to refrain from eating any kind of food that contains gluten. A gluten-free diet has given many people their life back.