Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Heart Complications?


karkar892

Recommended Posts

karkar892 Newbie

32 year old healthy woman, possible Celiac.

Have been off gluten for about 2 months and stomach pain resolved. However, went on a "gluten-binge" at an event about 2 weeks ago. Since then I've had (in the following order): Frequent urination, low-grade fever, abdominal and pelvic pain, fatigue, mental fog. Most of these have resolved. Had pretty severe constipation for about a week (only went twice) Last Wed I was in the ER for chest pain in the center of my chest (like a fist). Pain moderate and somewhat diffuse. Saturday I was back in ER for squeezing type pain in left chest, left upper arm, and left side of neck. Diagnosed with pre-ventricular contractions (PVCs) of unknown origin. Wearing halter monitor for 24 hours and have stress echo scheduled.

Still no diagnosis. Could this all have started from the gluten binge? Can celiac impact heart like this?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Raven815 Rookie

I don't know, but I am 49 years old, just dx'd and I had triple bypass heart surgery at 42 years old. Coincidence? I wonder. I'll pray for you.

Laura :huh:

IrishHeart Veteran

Your symptoms sound like they are gluten-related. (and I had all the ones you list, including the pain in my chest)

Celiac disease is associated with MANY health problems and involves many organs: heart, thyroid, liver, kidneys, the skin. It affects the brain in ways that are many and varied. I wore a holter monitor 5 times in the last 20 years for erratic heart beat, a-fib and intense pounding, yet my EKG is always normal.

Off gluten, it is, essentially, resolved. But I still have heart palps and a sudden weakness in my body. My doc still watches me as both my parents had/have a-fib and my Dad ( a celiac if there ever was one) required an aortic heart valve transplant.

There are many Pub Med articles that show a relationship between heart disease and celiac. (just google and you will find them)

Here are the cardio symptoms listed in Recognizing Celiac Disease:

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PROBLEMS

Disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

Angina Pectoris

Aortic Vasculitis

Atherosclerosis

Cardiomegaly

Coronary Artery Disease

Easy Bruising (Ecchymosis)

Hypertension

Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Nosebleeds, Unexplained

I always say this to people who ask me if gluten is their problem:

If you go off gluten for a while and then reintroduce it and you have major debilitating symptoms, then yes, you may have a gluten issue.

You said you are a "healthy 32- year -old woman"

My first question is: what made you go off gluten in the first place ?

christianmom247 Explorer

Wow--I never even thought about a possible connection here! A couple days before I got my official celiac diagnosis, I had a sudden fainting/seizure spell where my blood pressure went down so low it wouldn't even register! So far they haven't been able to find a cause--my heart valve isn't the best, but not THAT bad. I also have high blood pressure even though my weight is normal and my diet very healthy, no drinking or smoking, etc.

Seems there's so much about celiac that they still don't know! :-\

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast

32 year old healthy woman, possible Celiac.

Have been off gluten for about 2 months and stomach pain resolved. However, went on a "gluten-binge" at an event about 2 weeks ago. Since then I've had (in the following order): Frequent urination, low-grade fever, abdominal and pelvic pain, fatigue, mental fog. Most of these have resolved. Had pretty severe constipation for about a week (only went twice) Last Wed I was in the ER for chest pain in the center of my chest (like a fist). Pain moderate and somewhat diffuse. Saturday I was back in ER for squeezing type pain in left chest, left upper arm, and left side of neck. Diagnosed with pre-ventricular contractions (PVCs) of unknown origin. Wearing halter monitor for 24 hours and have stress echo scheduled.

Still no diagnosis. Could this all have started from the gluten binge? Can celiac impact heart like this?

If I get a small dose of cc, one of my first symptoms is throwing PVCs. I've gotten chest pain that radiated to my jaw, arm, and back too.

Before my Dx I had a bad chest pain episode and was taken by ambulance to the ER. My blood pressure was sky high. They did a heart cath and found no blockages. My EKG looks normal unless I'm having PVCs at the time. They had no explanation for the cause of it.

My hubby, who I suspect has Celiac had a nearly fatal heart attack at the age of 50.

My cousin, who I suspect has Celiac has had open heart surgery and is currently on a heart transplant waiting list.

Now that I'm gluten-free I only get heart symptoms if accidentally getting gluten by cc.

mushroom Proficient

I just last week had an ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation which I trace back directly to food reactions. It has been my major food problem. Used to cause fainting initially. I cannot state with certainty that it is gluten; I believe it to be lectins (a different kind of protein) that I react to.

peeptoad Apprentice

I get PVCs even when I haven't been glutened... although so many things can be connected to the consumption of gluten that it wouldn't surprise me if the two were connected.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



1desperateladysaved Proficient

recently learned that my blood pressure had been in 2007 as high as 180/115, My pulse was almost undetectable at times. I remember a nurse having trouble with that in my tiny second grade arm. Later symptoms included heavy periods, fluctuating weight gain and loss, water retention, intestinal irritablility, frequent urination, extreme thirst, skin numbness and temperature flushes. My blood pressure would plummet when I went from laying down to standing. In other words I was in serious trouble physically.

This condition was reversed by supplements that helped make up for nutrients I was deficient in. We did not know I had Celiac, though.

I just bought a copy of Gluteen-Free Living. There was a listing of Auto-immune diseases. "Cardiomyopathy is an inflammatory disorder of the heart=muscle." The kind assoicated with Celiac most often is congestive cardiomyopathy. The muscles of the heart swell and the heart gets weak. It states that a gluten free diet helps the heart to function better.

I expect that I will have some ineviditable consequences of living with 30 years of gluten intolerance or more. I expect to be amazed at the design of the body going forward and heal as best I can.

Lucy Lastic Newbie

If I get a small dose of cc, one of my first symptoms is throwing PVCs. I've gotten chest pain that radiated to my jaw, arm, and back too.

Before my Dx I had a bad chest pain episode and was taken by ambulance to the ER. My blood pressure was sky high. They did a heart cath and found no blockages. My EKG looks normal unless I'm having PVCs at the time. They had no explanation for the cause of it.

My hubby, who I suspect has Celiac had a nearly fatal heart attack at the age of 50.

My cousin, who I suspect has Celiac has had open heart surgery and is currently on a heart transplant waiting list.

Now that I'm gluten-free I only get heart symptoms if accidentally getting gluten by cc.

That's interesting. I didn't know what PVC was until after I read this and looked it up but I have had skipped heart beats and palpitations for the last 20 years which is the same length of time I have had IBS. They seem worse when my intestines and stomach are flared up too. Wow.

karkar892 Newbie

Update:

Blood shows potassium and magnesium right on the dot for lowest possible level of "normal" but perhaps that is low and not normal to me bc of malabsorption?

Stress echo normal. Kicked up 1000 pvcs while on halter. Still having symptoms....

mushroom Proficient

Update:

Blood shows potassium and magnesium right on the dot for lowest possible level of "normal" but perhaps that is low and not normal to me bc of malabsorption?

Stress echo normal. Kicked up 1000 pvcs while on halter. Still having symptoms....

Lowest possible level of normal is not "normal". You need to really up your electrolytes, keep a 4:1 ratio of potassium to sodium,for the sodium/potassium pump to work properly, and make sure that your magnesium is getting into the cells, not just between them. Can't stress enough how important good levels of K and Mg are. There is a test called the Exatest to check your intracellular magnesium. When I find out how to get it I will let you know - I am on its path :ph34r:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.