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Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : Celiac Disease: An Overview

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:07:53 +0000

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : Celiac Disease: An Overview
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is the name attached to the body’s autoimmune reaction to gluten which wears away the lining of the small intestine. Gluten, the cause of the disease, is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Is this disease new?
No. It has always existed but, in the past, it was rarely tested for and rarely diagnosed. In the last few years, publicity about celiac disease has increased and so have the diagnosed cases. Celiac disease, which was once considered rare, is now known to effect one in every 133 people in the United States. Most cases are still undiagnosed and many people are walking around with the disease but don’t realize that they have it.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of celiac include diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gas, bloating, weight loss or gain, chronic fatigue, headaches, anemia, psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and anger-control problems, sleep difficulties and a painful, itchy rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
Is the disease hard to diagnose?
Yes. The disease can be hard to identify because the symptoms vary so widely from person to person. Not every person has the same symptoms and not all the symptoms appear in each person who has the disease. In addition, many physicians aren’t well informed about the disease making a diagnosis that much harder.
How can I know if I have the disease? If you suspect that you may have celiac disease, see your doctor. Ask for a group of blood tests called a full celiac panel and a referral to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist should perform a biopsy of your small intestine for definite determination of the existence of the disease.
Is this test conclusive? The answer to this question is both yes and no. There are many people who have severe reactions to gluten but have negative or borderline blood tests and/or biopsies. These people are said to be “gluten intolerant.” The only way to determine if a person is gluten intolerant is for them to do a trial gluten-free diet. If, when on the diet, the symptoms disappear, that is a sign that you may have the disease. However, it is important to pursue testing if you suspect you may have celiac disease, if for no other reason than to determine that there are no other conditions causing or contributing to your symptoms.
If most doctors are unfamiliar with the disease, how can I explain to them why I think I have it? Yes, it is true that there are still some physicians out there who don’t take a patient requesting a celiac test seriously. Because of this, we recommend that you bring along documented information from a credible source about the disease to your first doctor’s appointment in order to discuss the possibility more professionally. It would also be constructive if you have kept a record of your symptoms, including the dates and times and duration of each.
Is there any treatment for the disease? The only current treatment for celiac is a gluten-free diet. This means that you should avoid all products containing wheat, rye, barley or oats. Nowadays most products are labeled if they contain gluten and there are many companies out there which manufacture food specifically for people on gluten-free diets. This makes the life of celiac disease patient much easier than it was even just a decade ago.

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : Celiac Disease: An Overview

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:04:24 +0000

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : What Exactly is Celiac Disease?

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:03:15 +0000

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : You may wonder what Celiac Disease is or if you, or perhaps a loved one, may have it. Celiac Disease is a condition that affects 20% of the people living in the United States and is characterized by an intolerance to gluten, or similar proteins in wheat, oats, barley and rye. It is a disease that results in malnutrition due to the loss of vitamins and minerals resulting from an impairment in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. This impairment is due to the damage to the lining of the small intestine when foods with gluten are eaten. Celiac disease an autoimmune digestive disease that can appear in both children and adults at any age. The onset of the disease can also be brought on by trauma, a viral infection, emotional stress and surgery. Celiac disease is also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, celiac sprue and non tropical sprue.
The symptoms of Celiac disease can vary widely from person to person; ranging from no symptoms to many severe symptoms. The most common symptoms include vitamin and mineral deficiency, bloating, gas, bone and joint pain, depression and irritability, anemia, dental discoloration and enamel defects, bruising easily, seizures, bone disease, indigestion, diarrhea, weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, foul smelling stools and constipation. A failure to thrive is also a symptom in children with the disease. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Diagnosing celiac disease is very difficult because the symptoms involved often mimic those of other diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and intestinal infections. In diagnosing celiac disease, your doctor may order several tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), a couple of tests to evaluate inflammation called an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and a CRP (C-Reactive protein). Other tests ordered help determine electrolyte, protein, and calcium levels, and to verify the status of the kidney and liver as well as vitamin deficiencies and malabsorbtion.
In the treatment of Celiac disease, a lifelong gluten free diet is often required to require the intestinal villi to heal. A gluten free diet consists of avoiding wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. These ingredients are often found in foods, beverages, and medications, the treatment is challenging but achievable with education and planning. However, despite diet restrictions, people with celiac disease can still have a well balanced diet. Instead of using wheat flour as an ingredient, people can use rice, potato, bean or soy flour. They also need to look for “hidden” sources of gluten and their derivatives in medication and other foods by reading labels. To correct any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, your doctor may also prescribe supplements. By completely removing gluten from their diet, people who suffer from celiac disease will begin to see improvement within three to six months. Within a year, symptoms will all but disappear by following a gluten free diet.

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : A Natural Perspective On Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:01:34 +0000

Autoimmune Disease Symptoms : Autoimmunity involves the immune system failing to recognize the body’s cells and tissues as being a part of the body, which results in the immune system attacking those cells and tissues. Any disease resulting from autoimmunity is called an auto-immune disorder.

There are over 60 known disorders thought to be related to autoimmunity. Below is a summarized list of conditions related to autoimmune disorders :

Alopecia Areata – An autoimmune disorder that is characterized by hair loss. It is found commonly in men and women and can occur at any age, including childhood.

Alzheimer’s Disease – Characterized as a progressive brain disorder, which involves a decline in social and intellectual abilities. Alzheimer’s Disease is thought to be associated with free radical damage in the brain and inorganic aluminum.

Celiac Disease – A chronic inflammation of the colon that creates an intestinal breakdown due to an allergic reaction to gluten. Gluten is a protein that is found in grains such as wheat, barley, oat and rye.

Crohn’s Disease – A chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which is characterized by severe inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This disorder is typically seen in persons between the ages of 15 and 35, but can also be found in young children and the elderly as well.

Fibromyalgia – This disorder is characterized by aches and pains in the muscles along with chronic fatigue and insomnia. It is estimated between 3 to 6 million people in the US suffer with Fibromyalgia. Ninety percent of them being women.

Graves Disease – A disorder affecting the thyroid gland. In this disease auto-antibodies bind to the thyroid gland, which increases the production of thyroid hormone, which plays a major role in metabolism. Symptoms include nervousness, diarrhea, insomnia, sweating, and weight loss with increased appetite. More serious symptoms include irregular heart beat, tachycardia (increased heart rate), swelling of eyes and legs. In rare cases, cardiovascular collapse, shock or coma could occur.

Lupus – A disorder which instead of the body’s immune system functioning properly as protection from harmful invaders, it forms antibodies that attack healthy tissues and organs. Symptoms include aching joints, inflammation, swelling, fatigue, fevers and rashes. Lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs, but for others it may cause serious, even life-threatening problems.

Multiple Sclerosis – A chronic inflammatory condition which involves the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord. This chronic inflammation causes severe damage to the myelin sheath (covering of the nerves). Symptoms include blurred vision, numbness and paralysis. Mercury toxicity may be a causal factor.

Psoriasis – A common chronic skin condition which is characterized by symptoms similar to eczema. It involves the hyperactivity of the immune system which creates a form of inflammation. This inflammatory reaction causes skin cells to multiply seven to twelve times faster than normal. The skin is often dry and itchy as well as being cracked or blistered.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – This disorder can affect many joints, but most commonly the small joints of the hands. An autoimmune attack on the tissues causes inflammation along with pain and swelling. If uncontrolled it could lead to destruction of the bones, deformity and eventually disability. It is thought that a factor of rheumatoid arthritis is holding onto bitterness.

What are natural ways that can be used which are helpful for autoimmune disorders?

Most people with autoimmune disorders suffer from exhausted adrenals. The adrenals produce a hormone that controls the immune response called cortisol. Cortico-steroid drugs are used to treat autoimmune disorders to mimic the action of cortisol, but have undesirable side effects. A natural alternative to consider is Licorice, which is an herb that supports the adrenals, as well as having anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Yucca also has anti-inflammatory properties as well as mimics the effects of cortisol. It also has a detoxifying effect as well as a blood thinning property. Wild Yam is another herb that can be taken as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Willow bark also has an anti-inflammatory property and can help bring relief from pain in autoimmune disorders.

Stress management is a key factor in dealing with autoimmune disorders as stress adversely affects the adrenal glands. Getting an adequate amount of sleep as well as having a positive mental attitude can be very helpful. Supplements that can be beneficial in helping the body manage stress are Siberian Ginseng, Chinese Mineral Chi Tonic and Nutri-Calm.

Antioxidants aid the body in balancing immune activity and also fight free radical damage. Green Tea Extract and High Potency Grapine are appropriate choices.

Essential Oils that may be beneficial for autoimmune disorders include Bergamot, Clary Sage, Lavender and Roman Chamomile.

Adding essential fatty acids to your diet like Flax Seed Oil and Omega-3 EPA can help to reduce inflammatory responses.

Magnesium deficiency is also common in cases of autoimmune disorders. Fibralgia contains magnesium as well as malic acid which is beneficial for generating cellular energy and may be helpful for Fibromyalgia.

Moderate exercise such as walking or swimming can be helpful but care should be taken not to over exert the body.

Taking a digestive enzyme is very beneficial.

Taking a Probiotic daily is recommended to help put healthy bacteria into the intestines which may help reduce allergic responses.

What should be avoided?

Immune stimulants are contraindicated as this could only make the problem worse. Avoid taking herbs and supplements that boost the immune system such as Colostrum, Dandelion Root, Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Yarrow.

Avoid essential oils that stimulate the immune system such as Geranium, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.

Food allergies may also be a factor in autoimmune disorders. Common allergens are hydrogenated fats and oils such as margarine and shortening, grains such as wheat and corn and dairy products. Foods that aggravate the condition should be avoided.

Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars which feeds Candida, a fungus that may also be a contributing factor for autoimmune disorders.

Toxicity and Heavy Metal Poisoning

It is believed that heavy metal poisoning, such as with vaccines that contain mercury and other toxins that are injected directly into the bloodstream as well as other toxic chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis, are a major factor in the underlying cause of autoimmune disorders. A gentle detoxification is recommended so as not to detoxify the body too quickly causing a “healing crisis”. SAM-e can be helpful in detoxifying the liver and has been beneficial in some cases of Fibromyalgia. Enviro Detox taken in small doses can also be helpful.