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This was in my inbox today. The links all take to sites that try to enroll
you in Dr. Blaylock's newsletter, so you can skip those. But I was
heartened to see celiac disease getting some recognition anyway.
Mary in upstate NY
Blaylock Tip of the Week
Celiac: The Mystery Disease Many Doctors Miss
One of the most common responses to the patient with a set of complaints
that do not fall into a well-known medical syndrome pattern is to assume
that the person is suffering from "mental problems."
Time and time again I have heard stories from patients recounting years of
personal suffering from a mystery disease or a chronic illness. They
describe in bitter detail either being ignored by doctors or being shunted
from doctor to doctor with no help provided.
Celiac is one of these mystery diseases. Contrary to popular belief, it is
not a rare disease but is, in fact, one of the most common autoimmune
diseases. Some estimates put it at 1 out of every 100 people. For
information on celiac as well as other puzzling diseases,
<http://news.newsmax.com/?K64RaiohpfcC-uIEp3Qhj2TAG3rfxlUAK&http://w3.newsma
x.com/blaylock/59a.cfm?s=al&promo_code=8405-1> go here for my special report
"Mystery Diseases that Baffle Your Doctor."
Like many such diseases, celiac results from an inherited weakness. The bad
gene responsible doesn't cause problems unless the person is exposed to a
protein called "gluten."
Gluten can be found in certain grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. When
people with this genetic weakness eat foods containing gluten (and one of
its proteins called gliadin), the toxic protein gets trapped under cells
lining the gastrointestinal tract. The immune system tries valiantly to
remove this trapped protein. The ensuing immune attack in the wall of the
intestine results in a blazing fire of inflammation that smolders for very
long periods of time. Because each meal contains this same protein, the
attack can continue for a lifetime.
You naturally would think that the major symptoms of such a disorder would
be related to the gastrointestinal tract, and you would be right. But only 1
in 6 people diagnosed actually exhibits these symptoms, which include:
* Intestinal cramping
* Bloating
* Recurrent diarrhea
* Weight loss from impaired nutrient absorption
Most victims of celiac disease have symptoms completely unrelated to the
gastrointestinal tract or have no observable symptoms at all.
Victims of undiagnosed celiac disease can experience a long list of
symptoms, including the following:
* Sudden hair loss
* Severe hypothyroidism or even hyperthyroidism (Graves disease)
* Dementia
* Loss of balance (ataxia)
* Seizures
* Recurrent pneumonia or meningitis from a loss of adrenal gland
function (Addison's disease)
* Various deadly cancers
Celiac is multisystem, meaning it affects many organs and a number of
conditions may be the presenting feature of the disease. For example, the
first symptom may be a seizure, or infertility, or even a migraine headache.
This is why doctors often fail to make the link. For a detailed list of
conditions associated with celiac,
<http://news.newsmax.com/?K64RaiohpfcC-uIEp3Qhj2TAG3rfxlUAK&http://w3.newsma
x.com/blaylock/59a.cfm?s=al&promo_code=8405-1> Go Here.
One of the most devastating effects of celiac disease is the malabsorption
of nutrients from foods. Various food components, such as calcium, vitamins,
and iron are absorbed from special segments of the gastrointestinal tract.
For information on the importance of vitamins in the diet,
<http://news.newsmax.com/?KK4R.imhMfbc0aeEdXQmuJT1k3retlRAK&http://w3.newsma
x.com/blaylock/36a.cfm?s=al&promo_code=8405-1> go here for information on
my special report "Key Vitamins that Save Your Heart, Prevent Cancer and
Keep You Living Long."
A common misdiagnosis is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is estimated
that 36 percent of celiac disease patients were first diagnosed as having
IBS.
Studies show that 97 percent of people with celiac disease go undiagnosed
for much of their lives. The average time of diagnosis for even moderately
severe cases is nine years.
Making the diagnosis of celiac requires a high index of suspicion - if you
suspect you may have this disorder, discuss it with your doctor. If
necessary, seek a specialist who treats celiac disease. Gastroenterologists
consider an intestinal biopsy as the definitive test, which can be done
rather simply as an outpatient procedure. For a list of other tests,
<http://news.newsmax.com/?K64RaiohpfcC-uIEp3Qhj2TAG3rfxlUAK&http://w3.newsma
x.com/blaylock/59a.cfm?s=al&promo_code=8405-1> Go Here.
Visit the Celiac Web Page at Http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC
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