Over time, the reaction damages the small intestine’s lining and prevents absorption or certain nutrients. This damage cause abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, anemia, diarrhea, bloating, and weight loss. It can also affect growth and development in children.
Celiac disease can also lead to other symptoms, including the softening of bones and loss of bone density, itchy or blistering skin, damage to tooth enamel, mouth ulcers, injury to the nervous system, joint pain, and reduced functioning of the spleen.
Celiac disease is common in individuals living with Type 1 diabetes, Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Addison’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and individuals with autoimmune thyroid disease. It also tends to run in families.
What’s interesting about the Celiac Disease is that it is known to be a “European disease” due to the available research on affected populations. Since it is a hereditary disease and that the genes affected are primarily caucasian traits, it’s often said that black people do not suffer from Celiac Disease.
Black patients test negative for the genes predisposing us to Celiac disease and because of this, black patients are misdiagnosed and are therefore unable to take the necessary steps to take charge of their health.
If untreated, Celiac disease can lead to malnutrition, lactose intolerance, loss of calcium and bone density, infertility and miscarriage, cancer, and neurological problems. Children with the disease may face delayed puberty, weight loss, anemia, arthritis, epilepsy, irritability, and failure to thrive.
It’s important to consult your doctor if diarrhea or digestive discomfort for more than two weeks of if your child is pale, irritable, has a swollen belly and foul-smelling bulky stools. It’s also not a bad idea to ask about testing for the disease if someone in your family is known to have the disease.
Once diagnosed with Celiac, the only treatment is adhering to a strict gluten-free diet. Sticking to this diet will allow the small intestine to heal and any other symptoms to clear up while helping to prevent future complications.
Not only do black communities face the risk of being misdiagnosed for this disease, but often face a lack of access to the right foods. With many gluten-free products being either expensive or unavailable.
The good news is that there are people out there, like Gluten Free RN, who are willing to do the work to raise awareness, not only on the disease itself but the neglected populations that the disease can affect.
Jasmine is currently a Group Fitness Instructor for Equinox, Everybody Los Angeles, and Sandbox Fitness. Her fitness modalities include, ballet, dance cardio, barre fitness, TRX, treadmill interval training, cardio kickboxing, jump rope, indoor cycling, and metabolic conditioning.