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Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a correct diagnosis. People with more money are more likely to be diagnosed with celiac disease, a digestive condition caused by intolerance to gluten—a protein found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye—according to an unpublished study. But it doesn’t mean people with less money are off the hook.
“Having more money simply increases the chances of identifying the condition,” says Daniel Leffler, M.D., researcher of the study and director of clinical research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Celiac Center. “People often suspect the disease themselves and request testing without the doctor suspecting it first.” Since those with more money tend to know more about health, they’re more likely to ask for the blood test.
What you should know: “Celiac disease causes inflammation in the lining of the intestine, due to an allergic reaction to gluten,” says Leffler. “This inflammation prevents the body from absorbing nutrients and digesting food properly.”
Could you have celiac disease and not and even know it? The symptoms vary depending on the person—sometimes manifesting themselves as a less-serious gluten sensitivity. Here are some signs that you should get tested, according to Leffler.
You Have Stomach Cramps, Bloating, and Gas
An inflamed intestine can’t digest food properly. So, bacteria digests nutrients you would normally digest in your intestine. Your body rebels by giving you a nasty case of gas, bloating, and cramps.
You Have Diarrhea
The intestine can’t absorb nutrients as effectively when it’s damaged. In fatty foods, the unabsorbed fat gets broken down by bacteria, and turned into fatty acids. These fatty acids make the intestine watery, resulting in diarrhea.
You Lost Weight
Intestinal damage makes it difficult for the body to recognize and absorb calories and fat. Instead storing or using the nutrients for energy, they’re passed through the body and excreted. That ice cream you just ate? It’s almost as though your body had no idea you even ate it.
You’re Really Tired
When you have any type of inflammation or infection, your body releases chemicals that make you feel tired.
You Can’t Exercise As Much
The body is devoting so much energy to reducing the inflammation in the intestine it doesn’t have the energy to do anything else. This includes repairing muscles during a workout.
You Have a Rash
If you have the disease and you eat gluten, the body makes antibodies that travel through the blood and bind to other places, like the skin, causing a blistery, itchy, pimply skin rash—usually on the elbows and knees.
Go With Your Gut
Bottom line: if you suddenly begin to experience any of these symptom combinations and they don’t calm down within a month, see your doctor and request a celiac blood test. The test is widely available, almost always covered by insurance, and successfully diagnoses 95 percent of patients. (If you’re not covered by insurance, the test runs from about $60 to $100.)
If you have the disease, it’s not the end of the world—especially since gluten-free is the new diet trend! (Read More: Is Gluten Making Us Fat?) Try these Gluten Free Recipes from our Recipe Finder and check out our recommendation of the Best Gluten-Free Bread.
—Dana Leigh Smith
“Having more money simply increases the chances of identifying the condition,” says Daniel Leffler, M.D., researcher of the study and director of clinical research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Celiac Center. “People often suspect the disease themselves and request testing without the doctor suspecting it first.” Since those with more money tend to know more about health, they’re more likely to ask for the blood test.
What you should know: “Celiac disease causes inflammation in the lining of the intestine, due to an allergic reaction to gluten,” says Leffler. “This inflammation prevents the body from absorbing nutrients and digesting food properly.”
Could you have celiac disease and not and even know it? The symptoms vary depending on the person—sometimes manifesting themselves as a less-serious gluten sensitivity. Here are some signs that you should get tested, according to Leffler.
You Have Stomach Cramps, Bloating, and Gas
An inflamed intestine can’t digest food properly. So, bacteria digests nutrients you would normally digest in your intestine. Your body rebels by giving you a nasty case of gas, bloating, and cramps.
You Have Diarrhea
The intestine can’t absorb nutrients as effectively when it’s damaged. In fatty foods, the unabsorbed fat gets broken down by bacteria, and turned into fatty acids. These fatty acids make the intestine watery, resulting in diarrhea.
You Lost Weight
Intestinal damage makes it difficult for the body to recognize and absorb calories and fat. Instead storing or using the nutrients for energy, they’re passed through the body and excreted. That ice cream you just ate? It’s almost as though your body had no idea you even ate it.
You’re Really Tired
When you have any type of inflammation or infection, your body releases chemicals that make you feel tired.
You Can’t Exercise As Much
The body is devoting so much energy to reducing the inflammation in the intestine it doesn’t have the energy to do anything else. This includes repairing muscles during a workout.
You Have a Rash
If you have the disease and you eat gluten, the body makes antibodies that travel through the blood and bind to other places, like the skin, causing a blistery, itchy, pimply skin rash—usually on the elbows and knees.
Go With Your Gut
Bottom line: if you suddenly begin to experience any of these symptom combinations and they don’t calm down within a month, see your doctor and request a celiac blood test. The test is widely available, almost always covered by insurance, and successfully diagnoses 95 percent of patients. (If you’re not covered by insurance, the test runs from about $60 to $100.)
If you have the disease, it’s not the end of the world—especially since gluten-free is the new diet trend! (Read More: Is Gluten Making Us Fat?) Try these Gluten Free Recipes from our Recipe Finder and check out our recommendation of the Best Gluten-Free Bread.
—Dana Leigh Smith