You’ve probably seen a lot of foods in the grocery store or on menus in restaurants that say “gluten-free.” In the last decade, as food allergies have become more identifiable, folks are becoming very aware of the foods they eat and the ingredients in that food. Although many people have made it a preference, choosing not to eat gluten, there are about two-million folks in the United States who must avoid gluten because they’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine. Here’s the problem. When someone has celiac disease, eating foods with gluten, like bread, pasta, grains, cereals, and processed foods, destroys the villi in the small intestine. The villi, which resemble fingerlike tubes and line the small intestine, have a very important job. It’s up to them to grab nutrients from foods and hand those nutrients off into the blood for the body to use.
When you have celiac disease, gluten triggers the immune system to damage those villi. If the villi can’t do their job capturing nutrients and delivering them to the blood, the body becomes malnourished from lack of nutrients.
How Do You Get It?
Celiac disease is genetic and can be triggered at any age. There is no cure for celiac disease; treatment is a gluten-free diet to prevent further damage to the small intestine and ease symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine says it is more common in people:
- Whose ancestors came from Europe
- Who are white.
- Who have type 1 diabetes
- Who have Down syndrome
- Who have other autoimmune diseases
- Who are infertile
- Who have irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea
Celiac disease is more prevalent in women, and if you have other autoimmune gastro issues, you may have a greater sensitivity. Another interesting characteristic of this disease is that some folks may have it with no symptoms, and others suffer pain and discomfort.
Common Symptoms
For people with celiac disease, eating gluten can cause the body to respond in a number of ways. According to a celiac patient advocacy group called Beyond Celiac, there are about 250 symptoms associated with this disease. Among the typical symptoms patients experience, the Celiac Disease Foundation says the most common are:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Gas
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Weight loss
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Skin rash
- Nausea
How Do I Know if I Have It?
Because celiac disease has so many symptoms that also fall in line with other illnesses, like Crohn’s, irritable bowel syndrome, or ulcerative colitis, the only way to diagnose celiac is through blood tests or a biopsy of the small intestine.
That’s where Any Lab Test Now® can help. If you have a history of gastrointestinal issues, or family members have celiac disease, and you are concerned about symptoms you may be experiencing, be proactive with your health and utilize a blood test we provide to give you the answers you’re looking for.
At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer the CELIAC DISEASE PANEL, an antibody test that can help diagnose and monitor the disease. We test for antibodies IgA and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody (IgA). You will have your results within 5 to 7 days.
Manage Your Health
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month, and we want to help you better understand this illness and know how to find answers. Any Lab Test Now® empowers you to take control of your health by providing tests like the Celiac Disease Panel. We provide clear, concise, and understandable results.
Remember, at Any Lab Test Now®, the lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them, whether that means consulting with your provider for further details or perhaps the results give you the peace of mind you were seeking. You also have the option to glean additional information with our DialCare service. This allows you to consult with our provider about your results. The clarity you receive from a medical professional can affect the way you handle your health.
If you are concerned about costs, know that having the celiac disease blood work done through your physician’s lab could be expensive if you have minimal or no health insurance.
You can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover the costs of diagnostic lab work from Any Lab Test Now®. Whether you are tested for celiac disease or have other health concerns, we have thousands of tests available to you, providing comprehensive health screenings that allow you to focus on your and your family’s health.
Any Lab Test Now® is Your Resource for Improved Health
Any Lab Test Now® provides thousands of tests available to you as our commitment to being your partner in health. We are here to help you and your family achieve your health and wellness goals. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.
