What is Coeliac Disease and what are the Options?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes a reaction to gluten, and is typically a hereditary disorder that affects the small intestine. Symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, loss of appetite and there could be signs of malnutrition. Abdominal distention is also a common sign of coeliac disease, and this condition can affect a young child. As early as six months, a child could display symptoms of stomach pains and general lack of development, which is caused by the restriction of food digestion.

Gluten Reaction

Coeliac disease is a result of an allergic reaction to gluten, which is commonly found in wheat, rye and barley, and these make up a variety of staple foods, such as bread and cakes. If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, you need to research the topic and then you will have a clearer picture of not only what causes the condition, but also to know where to obtain gluten free products.

Diagnosis

This is not such a straightforward process and is typically a combination of blood antibody tests and intestinal biopsies, which can quickly determine if coeliac disease is present. Sometimes, the antibody count does not show signs of the condition, and many people have waited for years before finally knowing they suffer from coeliac disease. There are several factors that could mask the test results, and possibly the doctor would look for other possible causes, due to the lack of solid evidence. Once a person has been diagnosed with coeliac disease, they will need to make changes in their lifestyle, in order to avoid the ingestion of gluten.

Online Solutions

The Internet helps us in many ways, and if you need to find out about a specific disease or condition, a simple online search will give you all the information you need. There are also many online suppliers of gluten-free products, and you will need to be very careful about what you eat, and a gluten free diet can be easily found online.

No Cure

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but if a person has a gluten free diet, there will be no negative effects, and with online suppliers, you can enjoy all of your favourite foods in a gluten free recipe. There are gluten free communities online and these are invaluable for people who have just been diagnosed with the condition, and by making friends with local people who also have to avoid gluten, you soon realise that this will not have any negative impact on your life, and you might even make new friends.

Gluten-Free Lifestyle

This is easily attained, as online suppliers are always ready to ship you gluten free products, and with the online community, you will get some great recipes to make things that are normally out of your reach, but with gluten-free substitutes, you can still have your favourites.

Having this condition doesn’t mean your quality of life will be affected, and with a little research and a change of diet, your life will continue as normal.