How Allergic Reactions Happen
Allergic reactions occur when your body comes in contact with something that it internally believes is harmful. This can be a food or any substance, such as pollen. As a reaction, the body produces immunoglobulin E or IgE, which are antibodies. These antibodies, in turn, attach themselves to cells which then release histamine. Histamine causes reactions such as inflammation, redness in the eyes, along with tears and an itchy feeling. If the reaction is strong enough anaphylactic shock can result. The IgE antibodies typically serve to fight infections but sometimes they attack the allergens instead.
There is also a condition called oral allergy syndrome, which is a reaction to pollen, not to a particular food. In this case, the immune system recognizes the pollen and similar proteins in the food and then causes an allergic reaction to it. This is not a true food allergy but is often confused as one.
Why Is It So Difficult To Diagnose
For any patient, celiac disease can be an extremely difficult disease to diagnose, with a wide array of symptoms, varying from diarrhea to osteoporosis. However, for yet unknown reasons, the difficulty jumps to another level when it comes to older patients. The main issue is that typical intestinal symptoms are less common in these patients, which instead tend to present nutritional deficiencies or other secondary symptoms. For example, the vast majority of elderly patients only have anemia or low bone density as their main symptom at the time of diagnosis. In fact one study found that anemia is present in 60-80% of elderly patients with celiac disease and has been mainly attributed to the deficiency of micronutrients, particularly iron. Deficiencies of other nutrients such as folate and vitamin B12 were also common. Other autoimmune diseases are also frequently associated with celiac disease and may provide clues for suspicion of celiac disease in an elderly patient. Autoimmune thyroid disorders are the most common associated autoimmune diseases in elderly celiac patients, with majority of patients presenting with hypothyroidism. Those that do present more typical symptoms tend to complain about mild forms of flatulence and bloating, and dont really make diagnosis any easier. The consequent delay can have serious repercussions, as the risk of developing other immune diseases or intestinal lymphoma is higher in elderly patients.
The Gluten Sensitivity Spectrum
Sensitivity to gluten can take several forms. There is non-coeliac gluten sensitivity , which is a condition that triggers bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, gas, nausea, joint pain and stomach cramps in affected individuals whenever they consume gluten.
Then there is coeliac disease which is essentially gluten sensitivity at its most severe form. Individuals diagnosed with this genetic autoimmune disorder do not only experience the symptoms listed above when they ingest gluten but also suffer from long-term intestinal damage. This puts them at risk for malnutrition and various health complications such as cancer, infertility and thyroid conditions.
Lastly, there is gluten ataxia. It is also an autoimmune condition like coeliac disease, but instead of your intestinal wall lining getting attacked, the antibodies attack your brain and nervous system instead.
Following a gluten-free diet is the only way to manage the symptoms of non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, coeliac disease and gluten ataxia.
Recommended Reading: Can Environmental Allergies Cause Weight Gain
Can Gluten Intolerance Begin Suddenly
Yes, gluten intolerance can begin suddenly. As gluten is a type of protein, it is possible for some people to develop sensitivity to it or have it suddenly trigger a reaction in their body. Gluten sensitivity and even intolerance can start at any age and can be triggered by stress, pregnancy, other digestive disorders, or a recent illness or medication.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance can include fatigue, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and changes in mood, as well as joint and muscle pain. If you are exhibiting signs of gluten intolerance, it is important to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and get the proper treatment.
Celiac Disease And Cardiovascular Risk
The biological mechanisms linking CD, chronic heart failure, and other cardiovascular conditions are not fully understood, but several possible pathways have been suggested. One of these could be linked to the evidence that CD patients have a low-grade chronic inflammation, which could drive atherosclerosis and vascular damage.111 Furthermore, patients following a GFD do not always eat a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates, and fibers,112,113 contributing to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic process. Regarding this, a casecontrol study114 showed that CD is associated with an increased intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries, a well-known intermediate marker of endothelial dysfunction and macrovascular disease.
However, regarding the incidence of risk factor for cardiovascular disease among celiac patients, it has been previously observed that mortality due to ischemic heart disease and stroke123 was lower than that in the general population, thereby hypothesizing a protective action of CD against the above-mentioned conditions, maybe because of the low levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and fibrinogen. Recently, a nationwide population cohort study124 carried out on 3790 celiac patients effectively confirmed a reduction in the risk of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, and thus of myocardial infarction, but showed a slight increase in the risk of stroke.
You May Like: When To Take Allergy Medicine
What Is A Wheat Allergy
Gluten is just one of the hundreds of proteins found in wheat. A wheat allergy is an immune reaction to any of those proteins. When someone who has a wheat allergy consumes wheat, a certain group of white blood cells called B-cells begins to produce immunoglobulin E antibodies which attack the wheat molecules as if they were foreign invaders. While this is happening, other tissues in the body send out chemical messengers that alert the rest of the body to the presence of a threat. The speed with which this reaction occurs can range from a few minutes to a few hours after consumption and may be accompanied by a variety of symptoms including nausea, itching, abdominal pain, swollen lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, and anaphylaxis.
A person who is allergic to wheat must avoid all forms of wheat this is the only known treatment available for wheat allergies at this time. They may, however, be able to consume gluten from non-wheat sources such as barley or rye. It is entirely possible for someone to have a wheat allergy as well as celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, so additional testing may be warranted if youve been diagnosed with a wheat allergy. Wheat is one of the 8 most common food allergies in the United States and, while children can sometimes grow out of it, wheat allergies that develop in adulthood are typically permanent.
When To See A Doctor
You should see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms above when you eat foods containing gluten. This can be a sign of gluten intolerance or another serious problem like celiac disease or wheat allergy.
If you work with a doctor or registered dietician nutritionist to remove gluten from your diet but you still have symptoms or your symptoms get worse, you might have a condition other than gluten intolerance. If this happens, you should talk to your doctor or RDN, because you might need to change your diet or have additional testing done.
Read Also: Can Allergies Go Away With Exposure
Symptoms Of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is the most severe form of gluten intolerance.
It is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1% of the population and may lead to damage in the digestive system .
It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including skin problems, gastrointestinal issues, mood changes, and more.
Here are a few of the most common symptoms of celiac disease.
Elderly Onset Celiac Disease
In children and young adults, celiac disease is more likely to present with symptoms of anemia, failure to thrive, diarrhea, and weight loss.
For those who develop celiac disease when they are older than 65-years-of age , the symptoms can be different than they are in younger populations.1 Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies are common in individuals of all ages who have untreated celiac disease, since the small intestine is unable to absorb adequate amounts of nutrients from food. Certain other symptoms, such as constipation and obesity, are common in elderly celiac patients but rare in their younger counterparts.
Symptoms are often mild for elderly patients, who might mistake them for the common signs of aging, and could fail to bring up these symptoms with their physicians and delaying diagnosis and treatment.
You May Like: How To Treat A Swollen Eye Caused By Allergies
The Future Of Celiac Treatment
Clinical trials now under way are looking at different treatments to make gluten less harmful to people with celiac. One drug involves two manmade enzymes that would digest gluten before the body could react to it. Another being developed in Europe, Murray says, would bind gluten in the gut so that the body would get rid of it in a bowel movement. Unfortunately these treatments are years from becoming available and would not be a passport to eating gluten with impunity, he cautions.
Still, there may be a game-changer down the road. Scientists are working on a vaccine that could make a person fully resistant to the effects of gluten. If it works, Murray says, that could be a home run.”
Complications Related To Diet
Carefully following a gluten free diet is very important for good management of coeliac disease. Long-term complications can occur when a gluten free diet is not followed. These include:
- increased risk of bowel lymphoma
- chronic ill health
The risk of these complications is the same as the rest of the population when a gluten free diet is followed.
You May Like: What Are The Best Dogs For People With Allergies
Why Can Menopause Make You Intolerant To Gluten
The reason this happens is all to do with menopause affecting our digestive system in lots of different ways. Our digestion becomes less efficient breaking down and absorbing food. And we know there is something called leaky gut.
So, if you’re not breaking your food down properly, larger particles of undigested food can escape from the digestive tract and your immune system can trigger a kind of allergic reaction.
We know too that the time it takes for you to eat your food until your bowels work can be longer, so these foods are sitting for much longer in the digestive tract.
If the digestive tract itself becomes inflamed or more sensitive, then food being in there for longer can start to irritate the gut wall more and you can end up with a condition such as inflammatory bowel syndrome.
Later Years 60s 70s 80s
Depending on how long the disease has been present and left untreated, it could contribute to other conditions that are more common with aging: low bone density, GI issues, and the development of some cancers. A celiac disease diagnosis later in life may also come alongside diagnosis of other autoimmune conditions.
Changing eating habits and switching to a gluten-free diet in ones later years could prove as challenging, if not more so, than at a younger stage of life. For older adults living in care facilities or with a caregiver, attention to providing a gluten-free diet may make the change easier if the facility or caregiver is well-informed and conscientious about omitting gluten entirely from meals and snacks. Additional care to avoid cross-contact is important at care facilities. Gluten-Free Food Services works to validate care facilities as Gluten-Free Safe Spots.
Getting to a celiac disease diagnosis can be challenging, partly because of the vast number of possible symptoms related to the disease and some similarities of symptoms to those of other diseases and conditions. A persons age and life stage can present additional challenges to pinpointing what is wrong. If you suspect you might have celiac disease, find a healthcare provider who is willing to examine symptoms as a whole, consider family history, and, if needed, provide proper testing.
Also Check: Why Is My Allergy Medicine Not Working
How Celiac Disease Is Diagnosed
It is important to consult with a healthcare provider to reach a formal diagnosis of celiac disease.
The typical first step to reaching a diagnosis is a blood test. Those who have celiac disease but who ingest gluten will have high levels of specific antibodies in their blood. This is because the immune system produces these antibodies in response to the gluten it views as a threat.
If the result of a celiac blood test comes back positive, your healthcare provider may order an endoscopic biopsy of the small intestine. During this procedure, a healthcare provider will insert a small, thin tube equipped with a camera and light into the mouth and down your throat into the small intestine. The camera will take images of your small intestine.
The surgeon will also remove a small sample of tissue from the small intestine, to be looked at under a microscope in a lab. This procedure is considered the gold standard of celiac disease diagnosis. This is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and you’ll go home later that day.
Managing A Severe Food Reaction With Epinephrine
A wheat allergy reaction can cause symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening the severity of each reaction is unpredictable. People who have previously experienced only mild symptoms may suddenly experience a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. In the U.S., food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting.
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, which can occur within seconds or minutes, can worsen quickly and can be deadly. In this type of allergic reaction, exposure to the allergen causes the whole-body release of a flood of chemicals that can lead to lowered blood pressure and narrowed airways, among other serious symptoms.
Once youre diagnosed with a food allergy, your allergist will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector and teach you how to use it. Check the expiration date of your auto-injector, note the expiration date on your calendar and ask your pharmacy about reminder services for prescription renewals.
If you are uncertain whether a reaction warrants epinephrine, use it right away, because the benefits of epinephrine far outweigh the risk that a dose may not have been necessary.
Your allergist will provide you with a written emergency treatment plan that outlines which medications should be administered and when . Be sure that you understand how to properly and promptly use an epinephrine auto-injector.
You May Like: How To Heal Sun Allergy Rash
How Celiac Disease Is Treated
Once youve received a diagnosis of celiac disease, your healthcare provider will advise you to immediately start a gluten-free diet.
A strict gluten-free diet is the only known effective treatment for celiac disease, and it must be followed for life once you have been diagnosed.
Once people with celiac start following a strict gluten-free diet, the majority of people experience a significant improvement in their symptoms within days or weeks. Without exposure to gluten, the damage in the small intestine will begin to heal. A gluten-free diet also prevents more damage from occurring.
In some cases, your healthcare provider might prescribe medication to help with rashes associated with celiac disease. They may also prescribe supplements to address any vitamin and mineral deficiencies that may have occurred due to nutrient malabsorption in the small intestine.
Can You Grow Out Of A Gluten Sensitivity
Related Articles
While its possible to be intolerant to just about any food item imaginable, gluten sensitivity, which is an adverse reaction to foods containing gluten, happens to be fairly common. Gluten sensitivity affects approximately 6 percent of the population, according to information provided in 2014 by the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. People grow in and out of many food intolerances including an intolerance to the gluten protein. Children are more likely to grow out of such a sensitivity, as their bodies are still maturing, according to the U.K. National Health Service website. However, even if your sensitivity to gluten persists, you can learn to manage it with dietary modifications.
Read Also: How Do You Read An Allergy Skin Test
How To Reduce Gluten Intake
While people with celiac disease must exclude gluten from their diet as soon as a doctor has diagnosed the condition, many people with gluten intolerance slowly reduce the consumption of gluten, rather than cutting it out straightaway.
It can help if a person starts by including one gluten-free meal per day before slowly adding more.
It may not be beneficial for everyone with gluten intolerance to cut gluten out of their diet entirely, as peoples symptoms will vary in their severity.
Some people may be able to consume small amounts of gluten without experiencing any symptoms.
The majority of people with gluten intolerance, however, may want to eliminate gluten from their diet gradually.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Celiac Disease
Common symptoms of celiac disease are diarrhea, decreased appetite, stomachache and bloating, poor growth, and weight loss. Many kids are diagnosed with it when they’re between 6 months and 2 years old, which is when most kids get their first taste of gluten in foods.
For some people, the problems start slowly and the symptoms may be terrible one week and not as bad the next. Because of this, some people aren’t diagnosed with celiac disease until they’re older. The problem is chronic, which means that although symptoms may come and go, people who have celiac disease will always have it.
Someone with celiac disease may feel tired and could be irritable. Some also have skin rashes and mouth sores. The problem is sometimes mistaken for other digestiveproblems called inflammatory bowel disease or lactose intolerance. And in some cases, a kid won’t have any symptoms and then will all of a sudden start having problems during a time of stress, such as after an injury.
You May Like: How To Test For Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy In Babies
