Welcome to the NYCeliac portal
NYCeliac ~  Celiac support
_{New York City area}

The purpose of this site is to raise awareness of celiac disease and the gluten-free lifestyle, and to promote improvement in diagnosis and follow-up care of celiac and related conditions. 

Celiac affects 1% of the world population. Here in the U.S. there are nearly three million people with Celiac disease, yet this condition is nearly 99% undiagnosed.

A Celiac blood test can cost under $200, and is covered by insurance. An adult with celiac symptoms seeks medical assistance for an average of 10 to 15 years, before receiving a correct diagnosis. Some people are in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Children with undiagnosed celiac need all sorts of medical attention and services. Symptoms may include chronic colds and infections, difficulty with learning, poor concentration, irritability, and similar issues. Other signs are headaches, poor sleep/eating/ bathroom habits, slowed growth, tooth enamel damage, muscle weakness or spasms, joint pain, and fatigue, which are sometimes characterized as laziness.

Children miss out on important academic, social, and physical experiences. Many are prescribed incorrect medication, a situation which has its own short-term and permanent repercussions.  

Low energy can be caused by vitamin deficiency, metabolic or hormone deficiency or malnutrition. It often signals the urge to "fuel up", and instead of the underweight symptom of celiac, obesity could be a consequence and a symptom.

Celiac disease meets the World Health Organization standards for universal screening. Without a pharmaceutical company sales force to promote celiac testing, the celiac community must step up and advocate awareness and testing.

Globally, celiac occurrence averages 1% of the population. For each person already diagnosed in the U.S. there are approximately 33 sick people who do not know they have celiac disease.

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