Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that affects millions of people across the globe. Many patients who suffer from the disease will not even know they have it or not even realize it’s an autoimmune deadly condition, as it mimics symptoms of other conditions affecting the digestive system or health. A celiac test is the best way to see if you have it and whether you need to adjust your diet to prevent complications. Below are five key reasons why you may need to take a celiac test.
Chronic Digestive Issues
The number one reason people go for a celiac test is for persistent digestive discomfort. For one, chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are symptomatic of IBS or lactose intolerance so celiac disease can go unnoticed. In case you have had digestive problems for a long time and haven’t found the right solution, getting tested for celiac may help identify if gluten is the cause. Early diagnosis is important because prevention of long-term damage to your digestive system can only be established with early diagnosis.
Unintended Weight Loss or Gain
Unintended weight loss or gain might be a sign that you could possibly require a celiac test. Once the small intestine is exposed to damage by the body’s immune response to gluten, it also fails to digest essential nutrients, hence malnutrition. This malabsorption can also result in a rapid loss of weight, even if you are ingesting the right amount of food. Conversely, other people living with celiac disease might gain weight due to inflammation and hormonal imbalance brought about by gluten exposure. If you’ve experienced weight fluctuations that you cannot explain and you have no idea why, check for celiac disease as a possibility.
Chronic Fatigue and Brain Fog
Celiac disease affects more than the digestive system. It can severely impact your energy levels and mental clarity. More than one person diagnosed with undiagnosed celiac disease reports chronic fatigue and, brain fog, inability to focus or think clearly. Such symptoms are debilitating and commonly blamed on stress, poor sleep, or other health issues. However, the body may become fatigued and experience brain fog by failing to properly absorb such key nutrients as iron, magnesium, and B vitamins needed for fuel and thinking. If this is a case of unclear fatigue or mental fogginess, then a celiac test could help explain what is going on.
Skin Problems
Celiac disease can also present in seemingly unrelated ways to the digestive system. A rash known as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) often coincides with celiac disease. It is a typical itchy and blistering rash seen on elbows, knees, scalp, and buttocks. Though not everybody with celiac develops DH, its presence means that gluten is adversely affecting your body. If you have spots of unexplained skin conditions that don’t respond to your conventional remedies, then it’s not a bad idea to take a celiac test to see whether gluten may be your problem.
Heredity for Celiac Disease
There is a good amount of genetic linkage in celiac disease. That means if you have one close relative diagnosed with the disease, you are at an increased risk of developing it, too. Actually, first-degree relatives, which are parents, siblings, and children of a person with celiac disease, have a predisposition to acquiring the disease themselves at some point in their lives, with a possibility of 10-15%. However, even though you may not present with symptoms of the disease, getting tested for celiac is a wise move if any of your family members are diagnosed with it. It will enable you to prevent complications and manage the condition much more effectively through lifestyle modifications like diet.
Conclusion
Patients of celiac disease may be struggling to keep up their physical and mental health. Issues such as chronic digestive conditions and weight fluctuations, loss of fatigue, skin issues, and a family history of the disease are some of the many valid reasons to undergo the celiac test. If you identify with some of the symptoms or risk factors as outlined, then perhaps it is time to make that call to your healthcare provider to discuss getting tested. A simple blood test and biopsy can very well steer you toward a path of better health and wellness. Controlling your diet by excluding gluten may just make that difference, adding improvements to your quality of life.