RDs Can Help Identify Silent Celiac Disease
Registered dietitians (RDs) say they can help identify silent celiac disease, as many patients who have the disease often don’t show typical symptoms.
Celiac disease, is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by an auto-immune response to the protein, gluten, in grains. Typical symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and lactose intolerance. However, not all patients with the disease experience these obvious symptoms. According to RD, Marlisa Brown, many exhibit subtle signs like weight loss, anemia, inflammatory conditions like arthritis, and malnutrition. Nutritionists can identify such risk factors and help patients identify the disease earlier, so they can get the right treatment for it.
The fact that symptoms of celiac disease are similar to that of other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticulitis, make diagnosis difficult. Celiac disease is at present diagnosed with a blood test, which is not 100% foolproof. Hence RDs say that they’re in the best position to piece together such disparate information and help diagnose the disease in patients who don’t exhibit typical signs. More….
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