Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Bloating
Bloating is the feeling of your stomach swelling or being extremely tight or full. This can be uncomfortable and even painful.
Gas
People with Celiac Disease have problems with properly digesting food which can be a main cause of gas.
Constipation
One of the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance and celiac disease is constipation. Constipation is Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.
Diarrhea
In a healthy digestive system, the majority of food gets broken down into tiny particles and absorbed in the small intestine leaving only waste, bile and fiber to travel to the large intestine. The large intestines absorb the majority of the water from the waste, leaving solid waste for excretion. Over time, as gluten intolerance destroys more and more of the cells in your small intestine, the process of digestion remains incomplete, leaving undigested and unabsorbed food in the digestive tract. The undigested food contains vitamins and minerals such as sodium and potassium that attract water, making the stool watery and causing diarrhea.
Fatigue
Fatigue can be physical and/or mental. Celiac disease can result in a general lack of energy and strength. Sometimes poor nutrient absorption causes fatigue and weakness.
Itchy Skin Rash
Dermatitis herpetiformis, an itchy, stinging, blistering skin rash, occurs when your skin reacts to gluten antibodies circulating in your system. Some people call dermatitis herpetiformis a "gluten rash" or a "celiac disease rash" because it occurs in conjunction with celiac disease.
Although dermatitis herpetiformis can form anywhere on your body, the most frequent locations include the elbows, knees, buttocks, lower back and the back of the neck.
Tingling/Numbness
Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage): Deficiencies of vitamins B12 and thiamine may contribute to nerve damage with symptoms of poor balance, muscle weakness, and numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.
Muscle weakness: Lack of absorption and low levels of potassium and magnesium can lead to severe muscle weakness, muscle cramps, and numbness or tingling sensations in the arms and legs.
Weight Loss and Fluid Retention
Weight loss is the direct result of inadequate absorption of carbohydrates, proteins and fat. However, weight loss may not always occur. Some people with celiac disease often have an huge appetite that compensates for the reduced absorption of nutrients.
Also, fluid retention could be hiding weight loss. Fluid retention occurs in advanced malnutrition because the reduced absorption of proteins results in low protein levels in the blood. Normal protein levels in the blood are necessary to keep fluid from leaking out of blood vessels and into the body's tissues. When blood protein levels fall as in celiac disease, fluid leaks into many tissues (edema) but particularly the ankles and feet, which swell due to the edema.
Delayed Growth
Many children with celiac disease have a poor or abnormally slow rate of growth in either height or weight gain. Children can also experience delays in mental development. This is usually a result of them not absorbing proper nutrients needed for development.
Anemia
Lack of absorption of vitamin B12 and iron can lead to anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
Osteoporosis/Thin Bones
Lack of absorption of vitamin D and calcium can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Easy bruising
Lack of absorption of vitamin K can lead to diminished ability of blood to clot and hence to easy bruising or excessive bleeding.
Infertility
Untreated celiac disease can lead to infertility in women, lack of menses (menstruation), spontaneous abortions and low birth weight infants.
Headaches
Headaches are a condition that many people. It is often an overlooked symptom of celiac disease.
Depression
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer.
Doctors have discovered that there are undiagnosed physical conditions behind depression which, when addressed, can restore emotional health. Two of the most common health problems behind depression are celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
Irritability
Irritability is a very common symptom of celiac disease, especially is children. Many people find they are extremely frustrated or aggravated with daily life events.
Dental Problems
Dental enamel problems stemming from celiac disease involve permanent dentition and include tooth discoloration—white, yellow, or brown spots on the teeth—poor enamel formation, pitting or banding of teeth, and mottled or translucent-looking teeth. The imperfections are symmetrical and often appear on the incisors and molars.
Tooth defects resulting from celiac disease are permanent and do not improve after adopting a gluten-free diet—the primary treatment for celiac disease. But dentists may use bonding, veneers, and other cosmetic solutions to cover dental enamel defects in older children and adults.
