All About Living Life with Celiac Disease

Typically found in popular ingredients, including barley, rye, wheat, noodles, breakfast cereal, and bread, gluten is often an essential part of a person's diet. But for patients who have celiac disease, taking in food items with gluten can lead to major health challenges. The one effective treatment for this condition is the elimination of gluten from the diet. If you think you may have celiac disease, partner with a gastrointestinal (GI) specialist at Arizona Digestive Health to diagnose and address your gluten sensitivity. Our Phoenix, AZ specialists will help you process your new condition and help you modify your food choices and daily intake accordingly.

Celiac disease and what it means

Known as an autoimmune disease, celiac disease is a condition in which ingesting gluten causes harm to the small intestines. Patients can have celiac disease at any point in life. It is estimated that about two million people in this country have developed celiac disease and that almost two-thirds of all Americans with celiac disease are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed. If treatment is not sought, this condition may result in serious health problems.

Some signs of celiac disease

Someone with celiac disease might have a single or more of these listed complications after ingesting gluten:

• Eroding enamel
• Abdominal swelling
• Pain, prickling, or numbness in the feet
• Rashes
• Fainting spells
• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Trouble holding in bowel movements

When you or your loved one are seeing these common celiac disease signs, contact our Phoenix, AZ practice to plan a consultation with a GI specialist. Having proper attention can help boost your total well-being and your intestinal health.

How is celiac disease detected?

A GI physician is able to diagnose celiac disease. Your physician might perform one or both of the following celiac disease tests to identify or rule out this disease:

• An HLA genetic test searches for the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes, which can rule out a celiac disease diagnosis if not found.
• To diagnose celiac disease, a tissue transglutaminase (tTG)-IgA test is usually performed. This treatment requires our team to take a sample of your blood.

The next step in looking for celiac disease is to perform an upper endoscopy. Throughout this procedure, your gastroenterologist will check your small intestine for any damage by placing a thin camera device precisely through the oral cavity. Endoscopy is often a quick procedure that can be done as an outpatient option at Arizona Digestive Health.

What you can do to manage celiac disease

Even though celiac disease is a life-long condition, it may be treated by adopting a diet of gluten-free foods. For the majority of patients who have celiac disease, following a gluten-free lifestyle can serve to soothe issues and even encourage the intestines to heal. People who have the condition and stick to gluten-free eating habits usually see improvements to their digestive system within a few weeks. Isolating gluten from your diet might seem hard in the beginning, but through the guidance of an experienced dietitian and a physician at Arizona Digestive Health, patients in Phoenix, AZ who have celiac disease can modify their diet and go on to have active lives.

Reach out to our Phoenix, AZ team if you think you have celiac disease

Being gluten intolerant could affect your overall wellness, as well as interfere with many aspects of your life. To discover more about celiac disease and how to treat this digestive illness, please call Arizona Digestive Health. Our Phoenix, AZ team prioritizes your health above all else and will work hard to restore your quality of life.