10 Facts About Celiac Disease

After reading number 2, I have a deep sense of appreciation for finding this so soon. Having no history, that I knew of with Celiacs disease. My dad had a plethora of ailments, along with ongoing stomach aches. Wish I could have him tested now. Insulin dependant diabetes, lupis, rheumatoid arthritis. my family has had all of these common associations with Celiac sufferers. Along with being the child of a redhead, and an Asian(one of each!), Silas may have the genetic disposition. Time and testing will tell.


Description:
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have Celiac Disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten that is found in wheat, rye, and barley. Research has shown that timely diagnosis of Celiac Disease is essential to treating or preventing its complications10 Facts about Celiac Disease

1. Celiac disease is common: affecting an average of 1/133 Americans and up to 1/22 for those associated with risk factors.

2. The average duration of symptoms for celiac patients before they are correctly diagnosed is 11 years.

3. Celiac disease is twice as common as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and cystic fibrosis combined.

4. Approximately 50% of adult patients present with atypical symptoms.

5. Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance and up to 1/3rd of celiac disease patients have been previously diagnosed with IBS.

6. Celiac disease meets the criteria for the World Health Organization for justifying general screening.

7. Physicians may use more widely known but less accurate serological testing that can result in missed diagnosis.

8. Up to 21% of intestinal biopsies, necessary for confirmation of celiac disease, are rejected by insurance companies, claiming that the cost of the testing isn’t justified by the symptoms. Makes me wonder if we have a hope for not having celiacs? I'll keep you posted. All we have done is test positive with the gliadin antibody so far. IgG and IgA.

9. Celiac disease has a 95 percent genetic predisposition.

10. Celiac disease is associated with or can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, premature births, reduced bone density (both osteopenia and osteoporosis), neurological disorders*I have epilepsy, malignancies such as adenocarcinoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma*Castlemand Disease can turn into Lymphoma, and others, and a host of autoimmune disorders such as insulin dependent diabetes*My dad , thyroid disease*My mom, her mom, me- borderline , Sjogren’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, Psoriasis*My Dad, brother,sister, paterna grandfather, maternal aunt, autoimmune liver disease, and cardiomyopathy.(This blurb is from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website. See address below.)

http://www.celiaccentral.org/