At Capital Digestive Care, our providers offer a comprehensive range of digestive health services.
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Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. If you have celiac disease, your body cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. If you eat gluten, your immune system responds by damaging or destroying the lining of the small intestine in the digestive tract (called villi). Without villi, your body cannot absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream.
Even short-term exposure to gluten can cause serious symptoms if you have celiac disease.
Symptoms of celiac disease include:
Occasional abdominal issues such as cramping, bloating or diarrhea often resolve on their own. If your symptoms have not resolved within a few days or if they persist, it’s time to see a doctor.
Like many autoimmune diseases, we don’t know what causes celiac disease. You may be at higher risk of developing celiac disease if:
Treatment for celiac disease usually includes following a gluten-free diet.
Celiac disease cannot be prevented, but the symptoms and effects can be managed with dietary changes. If you have celiac disease, you may need to follow a lifelong gluten-free diet to maintain your health and prevent long-term complications.
