Celiac Awareness Day 2020
WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
Celiac disease is:
A serious autoimmune disease
Genetic
Triggered by consuming a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye
When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the protein damages the villi of the small intestines. This makes it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to malnourishment and a host of other problems including anemia, some cancers, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
Left untreated, people with celiac disease are at-risk for serious health consequences. There is currently no cure for celiac disease and the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.
Celiac Disease Facts
Celiac disease affects 1 in 133 people.
3 million Americans across all races, ages, genders and genders suffer from celiac disease.
Celiac disease is hereditary, so all first and second-degree relatives should be tested.
It is believed that celiac disease first began in humans at the advent of the first agricultural revolution. (Read more about the history of celiac disease.)
83% of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
6-10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed in the US.
We waste billions of critical healthcare dollars each year on unnecessary testing and treatment for those seeking a diagnosis.
Celiac disease can lead to a number of other conditions including infertility, neurological disorders and some cancers.
Celiac disease can also trigger the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
A strict, 100% gluten-free diet is currently the only way to control celiac disease. There is currently no pharmaceutical treatment.
Celiac Disease Symptoms
Symptoms of celiac disease include:
Anemia
Anxiety
Bloating or gas
Constipation
Delayed growth in children
Depression
Diarrhea
Discolored teeth
Fatigue/tiredness
Headaches or migraines
Infertility
Irritability
Itchy skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
Joint pain
Liver disease
Pale mouth sores
Poor weight gain
Thin bones
Tingling/numbness
