One in every hundred people suffers from celiac disease. Cases of diagnosis of this disorder are increasing every year. It usually occurs in children, but in recent years it has increased by 20% in people over 60 years of age.
60 years of age. This increase is due to the greater knowledge that society has about the symptoms caused by this disease. These data have been published by the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD) on the occasion of the National Celiac Disease Day, on May 27th.
The only way for the celiac disease sufferer not to have health consequences is with the absolute withdrawal of foods which contain wheat, barley or rye flour in the diet. In addition, special care must be taken with manufactured foods. By substituting gluten with cereals such as rice, corn, soy, millet or quinoa, it is possible to obtain the caloric intake that our body needs. Even so, the specialist in nutrition and dietetics, Dr. Lama More, member of Top Doctors and at the D-Medical center of excellence, recommends that the diagnosed person should have check-ups to maintain a good quality of life.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The only way celiac disease manifests itself is by eating gluten-containing foods often. Normally, the digestive symptoms that occur are: loss of appetite, change in stool characteristics (soft, loose or foul-smelling), abdominal pain or anemia due to lack of iron. Even so, the patient does not always suffer any symptoms, so the diagnosis is usually delayed in most cases. In some celiac children, mood changes such as irritability or sadness can also be detected.
Genetic transmission
On the other hand, regarding the degree of genetic transmission of this pathology, Dr. Lama More states that: “celiac disease is a family disease, if the child shares the risk haplotypes of his or her mother”. Improved technology in testing for celiac disease and research into the consequences of eating gluten-containing foods have contributed to the rapid detection of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.
For more information, please contact the FederaciĂłn de Asociaciones de CelĂacos de España.