Those afflicted often experience gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, constipation, gas and diarrhoea. But not everyone does. In fact, you can have “silent celiac” and have no idea.

Below, GI specialists explain what silent celiac is, how it’s diagnosed and treated and what to look out for.

“This is a rare form of celiac, as usually patients develop GI symptoms from the malabsorption, which is secondary to the intestinal damage caused by the celiac disease,” said Dr. Kevin Cronley, a gastroenterologist with Gastro Health in Cincinnati.

The good news is there’s a clear and effective treatment for celiac disease, silent or otherwise. The bad news is it calls for a big lifestyle change.