If you’ve been significantly tired lately, can’t seem to gain or lose weight, or are experiencing mood swings, these may be signs that you’re condition is more than just stress on the job or lack of sleep. These are all symptoms of celiac disease, a condition that often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years in a number of Americans. Here are some basic facts about the disease, and how you and your family can be tested.

What exactly is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a condition that damages the small intestine by eliminating villi, which are small protrusions in the intestine that absorb the nutrients in food to be passed into the blood stream. Individuals with celiac disease can not process the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Each time a person with celiac disease eats foods that contain gluten, the small intestine is damaged, because the villi are destroyed.

Celiac disease is considered an autoimmune disorder because the body’s own immune system is causing the damage. It is also known as a malabsorption because nutrients are not absorbed in the bloodstream properly. Other names for celiac disease include celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, which can also be classified as a skin disorder called dermatitis herpetiformis. Dermatitis herpetiformis is similar to acne vulgaris, and can cause reddish, itching blisters on the face, back, neck, buttocks, and legs.