The Blog

Celiac disease used to be an unknown condition that almost no one was aware and is now a condition taken into account by huge businesses that are always working on especial dietary alternatives found in specialised stores around the whole world .
 
Celiac disease is a serious condition that affecting many in all countries, and studies have unveiled that there is an increasing number of people affected by this disease. Nevertheless, it is not all bad news for people suffering from celiac disease since gluten-free products are always being produced. Also, since this topic is way more common than before, people are able to find many different recipes online. Everyday there is a new ingredient that can be used as an alternative to ingredients that contain gluten.
 
Although celiac disease is a condition that can be controlled with a strict diet based on avoiding gluten consumption, in some cases this condition may not be diagnosed as celiac disease at first since some people are just “gluten sensitive”. However, there are some cases that are undiagnosed because this condition requires a lot of testing in order to discard other problems related to colon malfunctioning.
 
Conditions related to this disease
There is common problem people with celiac disease go through and it is the number of problems that are related to it. It is usually said that the stomach is like body’s second brain and that is quite understandable since it is linked to many other organs as well. Celiac disease is considered an autoimmune disease where defences attack the body, this will inevitably allow access for other associated diseases to affect cells.
 
This should not be mistaken as the situation all people suffering from celiac disease will go through. People with celiac disease may not be affected by other diseases, it all depends of many factors but it is undeniable that some people have to face other conditions, especially when they have not been diagnosed as celiac people yet.
 
These are some of the conditions linked to undiagnosed celiac disease:

    • Gluten is a protein that attacks a part of the body called gastric epithelium, but this is not the only organ affected by it since the skin is also affected. The name of this disease linked to celiac disease is Herpetiform Dermatitis it is characterised by the apparition of blisters which tend to sting and burn a lot. This problem is usually presented in a symmetric way, if a blister appears on one elbow, it usually appears on the other one as well.
     
    • Aphthous stomatitis is also known as “sores”, although it may seem like it is just a symptom, it can also be defined as a disease that accompanies celiac disease. Why people who suffer from celiac disease usually go through annoying sores. This common pathology becomes even more common when gluten intolerance in present in the equation.
     
    • Probably the most common disease among people who suffer from celiac disease: Sjögren Syndrome. Among the most representative symptoms of this condition dry mouth, eyes, wearing teeth and making the affected person hoarse are only some of them.
     
    • Most autoimmune diseases affect the thyroid and celiac disease can be considered an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. In most cases conditions triggered by celiac disease related to the thyroid are these 3: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism and Thyroiditis. Some autoimmune systems take hormones secreted by the thyroid as proteins found in gluten since they are very similar and they attack it. This thyroid that is being attacked, stops developing its function correctly. In almost all cases in which the diet is correctly performed, medication would not be necessary, the thyroid would gradually return to its normal functioning.
     
    • Another relevant disease related to this condition is Microscopic Colitis. At first the symptoms from celiac disease and microscopic colitis are identical and people need to be submitted to deep diagnosis in order to determine what the real problem is. For people who follow a gluten-free diet and suddenly start suffering from diarrhea, it is highly recommendable to visit a doctor since the colon may be affected.
     
    • Mental deterioration is another issue people with celiac disease tend to go through, Problems such as depression, confusion, alteration of memory may occur. Since many of the gluten-free products are free of some vitamins, dietary habits of many people allergic to gluten tend to fail at nurturing the brain properly. Deficiencies that affect our nervous system may occur as well. For this reason, it is recommendable for people with celiac disease to take vitamins.
     
    • Fertility impairment can also be linked to celiac disease. In women, it may be harder to get pregnant and miscarriages are ore likely to occur. When celiac disease is treated, all this is more difficult to happen, since the gluten-free diet equals the probability of a normal pregnancy. Though, it is also important monitoring a correct nutritional intake with enough vitamins for the development of the baby.

There are many other diseases that are linked to celiac disease such as myasthenia gravis, intestinal lymphoma (which is one of the greatest risks if the diet is not established correctly), cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, IgA nephropathy and many others.
 
The only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet for life. For someone who is following a good gluten-free diet, these pathologies will not represent a problem. In case the person has started their diet recently, then patience is key. Symptoms from other diseases will start disappearing once nutritional and biochemical values of the organism are re-established.
 
If you are looking for a great company that is devoted to taking care of you and your family, here at Apple Tree Family Practice you will find the assistance of a doctor. In order to add vitamins for the strengthening of the brain is also necessary when looking to develop a suitable diet the assistance of a doctor may also be key. However, here at Apple Tree Family Practice we take pride in offering friendly and professional services to all the members of your family. Contact us!