Celiac disease is more prevalent than you may think.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Ahmed Hasan, who has a private practice in Lehighton and practices in the Lehigh Valley Health Network, said that one in 100 people have some degree of celiac disease, but only 3% are actually diagnosed with it in the United States. In other parts of the world, seven million people have been diagnosed with it or 30% of the population.

Celiac disease can be genetic, but not always the case. Hasan said that if a person has a first-degree relative, for instance a parent or sibling, who has celiac disease, then the risk of also having the disease is 1 in 10.

Hasan explained that it is an autoimmune disease where gluten, which is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, triggers a response in the small intestines.

“The body thinks it is a foreign enemy. Gluten triggers acids and enzymes that destroy the surface of the small intestinal lining,” Hasan said. “Gluten is not only in food; it is also in some medications.” It is used as a binder in medications.

On the lining of the small intestines, normal microscopic villi are elongated and thin. Celiac disease causes villous atrophy, which erodes away the villi making them shortened to almost flat. The result leads to a decrease in the absorption of nutrients.

People with celiac disease may experience anemia, because electrolytes and vitamins and minerals, like B12, iodine and iron, are not able to be absorbed through the lining of the small intestines. Instead, they get flushed out of the system.

“It is not a little thing,” Hasan said. “You need all these things in your diet.”

Celiac disease can cause weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pains, headaches, brain fog, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and joint pain.

“There are people who have all of the symptoms, and some just have one. Some only have a rash,” Hasan said. “If you have symptoms, you should get checked for celiac disease.”

Over time, celiac disease can cause a variety of health issues including heart problems, osteoporosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Type I diabetes, as well as lactose intolerance, lower liver enzymes, a blistering rash type of dermatitis, damaged tooth enamel, delayed puberty, infertility, miscarriage, learning deficits, and failure to thrive in children.

Hasan said that if a person is diagnosed with celiac disease, the symptoms and some health issues can be mitigated by removing gluten from the diet completely. Even bone density will improve.

“Yes, the small bowel will heal. It will start absorbing again,” Hasan said. “It’s amazing. Stop it and everything comes back.”

When caught early, removing gluten will prevent the destruction of the bowel and the development of other health problems.

If someone thinks he or she might have celiac disease, Dr. Hasan recommends asking a primary care physician for the blood test that screens for the disease. The blood test identifies the body’s antibodies to the gluten.

Hasan said the accuracy of the blood test is very good. If it is positive for celiac disease, then the person has it. For those who test negative, there is a small possibility of a false negative.

The next step is confirmation of the disease through a biopsy of the small bowel. An upper endoscopy is done for this procedure. Hasan said the biopsy is the gold standard in diagnosis.

Once celiac disease is confirmed, the patient will talk with a nutritionist about the foods he or she can eat and what to avoid. Hasan said he created a celiac disease support group that meets in Lehighton. A nutritionist and nurse meets with the group members and help them manage the disease.

For more information about the Carbon County Celiac Support Group, contact Dr. Hasan’s office at 610-379-0443. The group also has a Facebook page.