5 Symptoms of Celiac Disease You Should Know About

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition with just one trigger: gluten. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, their immune system perceives it as a threat and starts attacking the lining of the small intestine. The inflammation caused by the immune response can contribute to a variety of symptoms. These symptoms vary from person to person and might impact different body systems. Here are five symptoms of celiac disease you should know to ensure your well-being. 1. Gas and Bloatingr Gas and bloating are pretty common signs of celiac disease. If you eat something with gluten, your immune system freaks out, and your small intestine gets inflamed. That inflammation messes with digestion, causing gas to build up and leaving your stomach feeling like an overinflated balloon. Now, gas and bloating aren’t exclusive to celiac disease. They can pop up with lactose intolerance, IBS, and indigestion. That’s why they often get brushed off or misdiagnosed. But if you’re constantly feeling puffy and gassy, and it’s not just from that extra slice of pizza, it might be time to bring it up with your doctor. Especially if other weird symptoms are tagging along. 2. Diarrhear Chronic diarrhea is a big red flag when it comes to celiac disease, especially if it’s been flying under the radar for a while. When gluten sneaks into your system, it triggers an immune response that messes up your small intestine. That damage makes it hard for your body to soak up nutrients. The result is often loose, watery stools. Now, diarrhea isn’t exclusive to celiac disease. It can show up with infections, IBS, and food intolerances. That’s why it often gets brushed off or blamed on something else. But if you’re dealing with ongoing, unexplained diarrhea, and it’s starting to feel like your “normal,” it’s probably time to bring up celiac disease with your doctor. 3. Constipation Constipation is another common symptom of celiac disease. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, an immune response of their bodies causes inflammation. When immune cells attack gluten cells, they inadvertently destroy the villi of the small intestine. Villi are tiny finger-like projections that absorb nutrients from food as it pass through the digestive system. When those villi are damaged, it can prevent nutrients from being absorbed, which causes the villi to absorb more moisture from passing feces, making them dry and difficult to pass. 4. Fatiguer Feeling wiped out all the time? Not just the “I stayed up too late” kind of tired, but that heavy, bone-deep exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix? Yeah, that could be a sign of celiac disease. This isn’t your average post-busy-day fatigue—it sticks around no matter how many naps you take. Here’s why: when gluten triggers an immune response in people with celiac disease, it damages the small intestine. That damage makes it hard for your body to absorb key nutrients like iron, B vitamins, and magnesium—the stuff your body relies on to keep your energy up. No nutrients, no fuel. On top of that, chronic inflammation is like having your body running on low battery all the time, draining whatever energy you’ve got left. So, if you’re constantly running on empty for no clear reason, it might be time to look beyond just needing more coffee. 5. Skin Rashesr Celiac disease isn’t just a gut issue—it can show up on your skin as an itchy, blistery rash called dermatitis herpetiformis. These often develop on the elbows, knees, or buttocks. Surprisingly, many people with skin problems don’t have stomach issues. Less than 10% of celiac disease patients who had skin issues due to their illness experience stomach symptoms.