Gluten Allergy Symptoms In Adults - How To Identify The Symptoms

Identifying gluten allergy symptoms in adults can be a bit difficult. Many times you cannot make a self-diagnosis and must confirm it with a healthcare professional.

The reason it is hard to distinguish is because similar symptoms are shared by wheat allergy, gluten sensitive and gluten allergy.

Wheat allergy symptoms are not categorized as gluten intolerance or celiac disease. If you have a wheat allergy when you eat wheat containing foods you will have a histamine response to the wheat in the food you ate.

While many people think that gluten is found in wheat only this is not true and this is why gluten and wheat allergies are not one and the same.

• Stomach pain
• Rash
• Hives
• Gas and bloating

• Lung Irritation and difficulty breathing

• Sneezing and watery eyes

Then there is gluten sensitivity. This is very similar to celiac disease but is not exactly the same thing. The difference between the two is that celiac disease can be diagnosed using one of three tests.

These are a genetic test, blood work or an intestinal biopsy. The symptoms of gluten sensitivity are also difficult to determine just like gluten allergy symptoms. The symptoms include;

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Cramping
• Gas

Symptoms of Celiac disease that are not confined to symptoms of the digestive tract and are also present in persons with gluten sensitivity include;

• Headaches
• Joint Pain
• Vitamin Deficiencies
• Mineral Deficiencies
• Ataxia
• Dermatitis Herperiformis
• Bone density loss

Any of the above mentioned symptoms can be seen in gluten allergy but it is hard to tell from these symptoms alone if someone is allergic to gluten. This is because these symptoms are also common to a number of other illnesses as well.

When it comes to treating gluten allergy symptoms you will have better luck ding this than determining if the symptoms are really due to gluten allergy. The first and one of the main things you can do is to switch to eating foods that are gluten free. These types of foods are very readily available so much so that you can even find gluten free convenience foods. This proactive approach can reduce the risk of ataxia, cancer and malnutrition.

Some persons find that while they cannot eat wheat products they can safely consume Rye and Barley products without seeing any symptoms. You can try these products in an effort to establish if they will affect you or not. If they don’t affect you then you will have a wider range of foods that you can tolerate even if only in small amounts. Test these foods in small amounts as you don’t want to have a large reaction that cause anaphylactic shock which could prove to be deadly.

There are a number of supplements that one can take to alleviate the symptoms to include enzymes and probiotics. You should never self-prescribe though as it is best to see a physician who will be better able to determine if these items are suitable for you. What you can do is research gluten supplements prior to visiting the doctor so as to be in the know when you start to talk with each other.