What’s Celiac Disease?
Those disease sufferers’ immune system will respond to this by damaging the small protrusions located on the outer surface of the 
small intestine called villi.
The function of villi are to allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream.
Therefore when these villi become damaged, regardless of how much food the sufferer consumes, they will become ” seriously malnourished in the end”, which will lead to severe disfunction of internal organ.
It was mentioned that Celiac disease effects around 3 million Americans and it was estimated that about 90% of Americans who have it go undiagnosed.
Dr. Aline Charabaty of Georgetown University Medical Center’s Division of Gastroenterology joins CNN’s Heidi Collins in the Newsroom to discuss the basics of celiac disease, diagnosis and treatment…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qjxg18YmLQ]
What frustrating the most is, some of the doctors don’t even know about this! It’s an outrage.
Symptoms and Treatment of Coeliac Disease
Normally, these kind of disease’s sufferers will experience an abnormal intolerance or reaction to gluten, wheat, rye and barley.
Celiacs’ symptoms, however, will vary and could happen in either the digestive system or within other parts of the body.
It could cause great discomfort to the sufferers, such as: abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarhoea, vomiting, constipation, 
foul-smelling or fatty stool and weight loss.
Due to lack of nutrients absorbed into the blood stream you may also experience higher levels of irritability.
It is possible for sufferers of coeliac disease to experience no immediate symptoms but they may develop complications of the disease over time. Long-term implications can include malnutrition which can lead to anemia, osteoporosis, miscarriage, liver diseases, and cancers of the intestine.
Symptoms which affect other parts of the body can include fatigue, bone or joint pain, iron-deficiency or anemia, arthritis, bone loss or osteoporosis, tingling sensations or numbing of the hands and feet, depression or anxiety, missed menstrual periods, ulcers or sores inside the mouth from a lack of vitamin C absorption.
Factors which determine symptoms can vary depending on your age and the degree of damage to the small intestine. It is possible to have Celiac disease for several years before the symptoms emerge and the disease therefore diagnosed. The longer a person goes undiagnosed and untreated however, the greater the chance of developing long-term complications.
The most effective way to treat coeliac disease is by undertaking a gluten-free diet which for many, can mean a drastic diet and lifestyle change.
The sufferer will be required to eliminate many ‘staple’ foods such as bread, cereal, pasta and processed foods which can be difficult to give up. Even the smallest portion of gluten will cause damage to the small intestine therefore it is vital that it is completely eliminated.
Many foods containing gluten are actually unbeneficial for a non sufferer of coeliac disease and it certainly does not mean you cannot maintain an enjoyable and healthy diet. There are many gluten free alternatives available in supermarkets and health food shops and the awareness of coeliac disease has increased rapidly over recent years.
A gluten free diet will relieve symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. The cure is of course a gradual process but one that will eliminate discomfort, increase your feeling of well being and ultimately, keep you healthy.
Some health food stores have a gluten free section to shop in at their stores. Whole Foods and The Mustard Seed are on track to fill this need. Cost wise, it is still more expensive to follow a gluten free diet than an unrestricted diet, but usually these stores try to make it as affordable as possible.
As doctors are becoming more aware of how threatening this disease is and therefore are starting to test more people for it. It may seem that the disease is on the rise but it is just starting to be diagnosed more often.
Information about gluten free diet could be found here.
