Celiac disease is a digestive order that’s triggered by consuming food containing gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It’s estimated that as many as one in 141 people in the United States have celiac disease and don’t even realise it [1].
If celiac disease goes untreated, it can cause:
- Malnutrition
- Bone weakening
- Pregnancy complications
- Lactose Intolerance
See also: Celiac Disease: What are the Signs and Symptoms?
What damage can celiac disease cause?
When celiac disease goes undiagnosed or untreated, there are a handful of complications that may occur, these include:
Malnutrition
Celiac disease ultimately affects how effectively your digestive system works. In some untreated cases, this can result in your small intestine being unable to absorb enough nutrients - at times this will lead to anemia and weight loss [2].
See also: Celiac Disease Diet: What You Can Eat
Bone weakening
When your body doesn’t fully absorb nutrients, it can lead to a deficiency in important vitamins and minerals; this can sometimes lead to osteomalacia in children and osteoporosis in adults [3].
Pregnancy complications
If celiac disease goes undiagnosed or untreated, it can increase a woman’s risk of pregnancy related problems as well as reproductive issues.
See also: What Causes Celiac Disease?
Lactose intolerance
Those who have celiac disease are more likely to develop lactose intolerance. The damage celiac disease causes to your small intestine can result in abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating or drinking products that contain lactose [4].
Untreated celiac disease can cause a number of complications which is why it’s so important to get tested if you’re experiencing discomfort when consuming foods containing gluten. This test can be done by taking a visit to your doctor or from home with an at home lab test.
LetsGetChecked’s at home Celiac Test will be able to identify celiac disease antibodies. Your online results will be available within 5 days and our dedicated medical team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. The test must be taken following six weeks of a gluten-containing diet to ensure accurate results.
See also: Celiac Disease vs Gluten Intolerance: What’s the Difference?
References
