Doc Eifrig: You could have this dangerous disease and never know
Friday, August 26, 2011
Text Size:
http://www.thedailycrux.com/content/8531/Health_Tips/eml
From Dr. David Eifrig in Retirement Millionaire:
In the October 2010 issue, I told readers about my friends' three-year-old daughter Katie. She struggled in her first couple years of life with generalized weakness in her walking, a lack of balance, and constipation. She lived with melancholy. Local doctors couldn't figure it out. It wasn't until a physician friend of mine visited and we agreed on the likely diagnosis - the gastrointestinal disorder Celiac disease.
Celiac disease is an allergy to gluten, a protein found in grass-like grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. At least one out of 133 people in the U.S. (0.75%) have the disease. In some populations, it runs to 15%. If you have a relative with it, your chances of developing it are closer to 20%.
And just because you're older, don't think you can't develop Celiac disease. Recent studies show more people who were previously gluten-tolerant are developing Celiac disease. Doctors have found that older patients are becoming gluten-intolerant. Symptoms of Celiac disease include: gas, bloating, anemia, diarrhea, weakness, bruising, infertility, and osteoporosis.
If you have these symptoms, ask your doctor to test your blood for the antibodies. Another easier way is to avoid gluten for a month or two and see how you feel. Gluten-free products are showing up in almost all grocery stores, which makes it easier and cheaper to test.
Crux Note: Doc Eifrig says your health and your retirement could be in danger because of a new U.S. government law. Unfortunately, few folks understand what this law could mean for them... because it's more than 3,000 pages long, and has a dozen sneaky provisions buried inside. To learn more, click here.
|