Celiac disease on the rise
Docs have been known to poo-poo the diagnosis or confuse it with irritable bowel syndrome. Women, meanwhile, start to think that feeling clumsy, exhausted or depressed is normal.
"This has been a huge health issue for such a long time," says Janet Dalziel, president of the Canadian Celiac Association, "but nobody—including doctors—seemed to pay any attention until now." The reason? A recent study from the U.S.'s Mayo Clinic suggests the rate of celiac disease (CD) in North America has almost quintupled over the past 50 years, to about one in 100, making it more common than Type 1 diabetes.
More alarming still, untreated CD quadruples the risk of premature death, and up to 97 per cent of people living with it have never been diagnosed. "This disease seems to affect women more than men," says Dalziel. "We outnumber men in our association three to one—and the majority of people newly diagnosed are the age of women who read this magazine."
Back up a second. Celiac disease? Isn't that what the kid who couldn't eat pizza back in Grade 3 had?
Think of it as a very slow, subtle death by vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, triggered by one of the most frequently consumed nutrients in North America. A genetic intolerance to gluten—a combination of proteins found in wheat, rye and barley—leads to inflammation of and damage to the lining of the small intestine, making absorption of vital nutrients difficult or impossible. And in our processed Pillsbury culture, traces of gluten—added often as a thickener—can be concealed in soy sauce, luncheon meat and lipstick. For CD sufferers, the consequences of eating even a hint of the stuff can extend well beyond just a cramped belly.
"Traditionally, people have thought of celiac as a gastrointestinal disease, but it affects every system, from your brain and muscles to your fertility," says Dalziel. "Some people live with depression, fibromyalgia or recurrent miscarriage. Others develop anemia, osteoporosis or colon cancer. Some die. But most are constantly in their doctor's offices never realizing what's really wrong." For now, the only treatment is a gluten-free diet.
How do you know if you have CD? Ask your GP for a screening blood test (covered in all provinces and territories except Ontario, where you can be charged up to $200 for the service) or order a CD test online (celiachometest.com) for $50.
Celiac disease isn't the only disease that goes undetected: Most women don't know the symptoms of heart disease. Read The truth about detoxing for ways to keep your body running smoothly.
This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of More
