Gluten Intolerance Symptoms in Adults

Gluten intolerance or celiac disease is a condition that develops due to inability of a person's body to digest gluten and gluten containing products. One should note that gluten intolerance and wheat intolerance are two different terms. Gluten is found in wheat, rye as well as barley. Gluten intolerance is also one of the common food intolerance or food allergies experienced by people. The exact cause of gluten intolerance is unknown, however, there are several factors like genetics, trauma, etc. that give rise to this condition. Stress is also believed to be one of the significant causes for the same. Gluten intolerance during pregnancy is also one of the common conditions. There are several gluten intolerance signs and symptoms that one needs to look out for, in order to diagnose this condition. Let us take a look at it in detail.

Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance in Adults

People suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance often experience health symptoms on consumption of foods containing gluten. Bread and bread rolls, rye, barley products, pretzels, muffins, biscuits, cookies, pasta, pizza, scones, pancakes, barley drinks, etc. are some of the common foods containing gluten. In case of gluten intolerance, when gluten containing foods enter a person's body, as the body is hypersensitive to it, it treats it as an invasion of foreign particles and consequently gives rise to a negative immune reaction. These are known as symptoms or side effects of gluten intolerance. They include:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Bloating and flatulence
• Weakness
• Stomach cramps
• Skin rash
• Bone disorders
• Pain in joints
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Fatigue

These are some of the prominent gluten intolerance symptoms observed in adults. In some cases, other symptoms like weight loss, eczema, anemia and tingling sensation in hands and legs are also observed. Apart from these Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the major symptoms of gluten intolerance.

Gluten Intolerance Treatment for Adults

If a person observes any of these symptoms persistently, he/she should consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will undertake a physical examination to check the presence of any other severe underlying cause. If not, he/she may advice you to keep a diary of foods eaten everyday, for a couple of days. From that reference, it is easier to diagnose whether a person suffers from gluten intolerance or not. Once the disease is diagnosed, it is essential to treat it as soon as possible, in order to prevent further complexities. Gluten intolerance, when left untreated, can lead to severe damage of the intestines, which is irreparable. Although there is no cure for gluten intolerance, several medications are available to treat this condition. However, it is advisable to follow certain measures to prevent the recurrence of this condition. One should completely avoid consumption of gluten containing (above mentioned) foods and also check the labels of all products before buying. You can consult your doctor for diet for celiac disease. Although it may not always be possible, but in hotels, one can ask the waiter about the ingredients of foods, to check whether they contain gluten or not. It is also essential for other family members to be aware of the gluten intolerance in any of the other family members at home.

Lastly, as a concluding note, it can only be said that it is essential to identify these symptoms, in order to diagnose, treat and prevent this condition in future. Take care!