How Common Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a relatively common disease that many people don't even know they have because the symptoms are not severe and often mask themselves as those of other conditions.

Because of this, physicians often misdiagnose patients as having similar conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food allergies, chronic fatigue, anorexia, or malnutrition.

The disease affects both sexes and can strike at any age. It can develop from infancy (as soon as gluten associated foods are consumed) or at any time after that in later life (even though you may not have experienced any previous effects through consuming wheat and gluten).

The Celiac Sprue Association have reported that an estimated 1 in 4700 Americans are diagnosed as celiac, although according to a study by the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore, nearly one out of every 133 Americans are unknowingly living with the disease.

According to the International Eating Disorder Clinic, celiac disease is the most common genetic disease across Europe. In Ireland, about 1 in 150 people are reported to have celiac disease.

However, many people are unaware of their condition because of the difficulties of diagnosis or mildness of symptoms.

If left untreated Celiac Disease can lead to other long-term conditions.

For more information and a complete step by step action plan to help deal with celiac disease and living gluten free, visit: www.AGlutenFreeLife.com