Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity share some of the same symptoms. Although the actual damage occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, specifically in the small intestine, the symptoms manifest in many different ways and often show up throughout your entire body.
Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease have hundreds of symptoms; the following lists don’t contain them all, but are a good sampling:
Gastrointestinal symptoms: These are some of the “classic” — although not the most common — symptoms of celiac disease:
Abdominal pain and distension
Acid reflux
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Gas and flatulence
Greasy, foul-smelling, floating stools
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss or weight gain
Nongastrointestinal symptoms: Interestingly, although gluten sensitivity and celiac disease affect the gut, most people’s symptoms are not gastrointestinal in nature. This partial list includes just some of the more than 250 symptoms not centered in the digestive tract.
Fatigue and weakness (due to iron-deficiency anemia)
Vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies
Headaches (including migraines)
Joint/bone pain
Depression, irritability, listlessness, and mood disorders
“Fuzzy brain” or an inability to concentrate
Infertility
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities
Seizures
Clumsiness (ataxia)
Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
Respiratory problems
Canker sores (apthus ulcers)
Lactose intolerance
Eczema/psoriasis
Rosacea (a skin disorder)
Acne
Hashimoto’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus erythematosus, and other autoimmune disorders
Early onset osteoporosis
Hair loss (alopecia)
Bruising easily
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Muscle cramping
Nosebleeds
Swelling and inflammation
Night blindness
