Most of us have heard of Coeliac Disease, an adverse reaction in the body to gluten, but exactly what the condition is, its symptoms and the effect it can have on our lives can be somewhat misconstrued.
A common misconception is that Coeliac disease is an allergy or intolerance. Coeliac UK actually describes the condition as an auto-immune disease; where your body's immune system attacks your own tissues.
This occurs in response to gluten, a kind of protein that is found in cereals like wheat, rye and barley, and sometimes oats. This can mean that your gut becomes inflamed and unable to absorb nutrients from the food you eat, resulting in a variety of conditions.
The bad news is that Coeliac disease is a lifelong condition; however there are ways of successfully managing it as long as you are aware what you eat!
The symptoms for Coeliac Disease vary from person to person, and can occur at any point in your life; however there are some things you can look out for. Most commonly:
In some people unintentional weight loss may also be a problem. Coeliac disease can also present in the form of a rash, called Dermatitis Herpetiformis, so this is worth looking out for.
As Coeliac Disease can prevent you from absorbing necessary nutrients from your food iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency may be diagnosed by your GP. You may also feel low in mood, or depressed. If you are concerned about having Coeliac Disease, and have any of these symptoms, visit your GP for their opinion and advice.
Other indicators of the condition include infertility or frequent miscarriages, therefore if you are concerned and are planning on staring a family, a visit to your GP is recommended.
The diagnosis of Coeliac Disease involves three stages. First and foremost a visit to your GP is vital; they will listen to your concerns and symptoms and assess the likelihood of you being a Coeliac. Secondly a small blood test will be taken to look for a specific antibody the body makes in response to gluten. If the results of this test and your symptoms suggest you may have Coeliac Disease, you may then have to undergo an intestinal biopsy. This is nothing to worry about, but may be a little bit uncomfortable.
Your GP will refer you to a Gastroenterologist, who will send you an appointment. You will either be given a local anaesthetic, numbing the area, or a sedative, and a thin tube will be passed through your mouth to your small intestine and some cells will be removed. These cells will then be tested for Coeliac Disease. If positive, you will then be given advice from your Gastroenterologist and be referred to a Dietitian for further advice and support.
It is very important to remember NOT to restrict your diet before you have been positively diagnosed as a Coeliac. Through not eating gluten, any tests undertaken may come back falsely negative.
If you are diagnosed as having Coeliac disease there is lots of support available to you. Your diet will need to be restricted for the rest of your life, but there are lots of gluten free options available to you both by prescription and in shops. Essentially, you will need to avoid all foods containing any quantity or trace of gluten, including wheat barley or rye. Some individuals that are particularly sensitive will also need to avoid oats also.
Food labels should indicate whether items are suitable for Coeliacs or not, and some foods will not be due to being prepared in an environment where contamination may occur. Contamination will be something you will need to consider at home and when eating out also, as often even traces of gluten will cause adverse side-effects. A more complete lost of gluten free foods can be found at http://www.coeliac.org.uk/glutenfree_living/the_glutenfree_diet/default.asp
Understanding food labels is also important, and your Dietitian will go through this with you. Becoming a member of Coeliac UK is also a good idea, and this can be done through your Dietitian or online. If you choose not to comply with a gluten free diet, then you put yourself at risk of long-term health problems such as osteoporosis and some kinds of cancer. Evidence does show however that the longer you comply, the less likely it is that you will develop these.
As mentioned above, Coeliac Disease can increase infertility or recurrent miscarriage. Evidence also shows that compliance with a gluten free diet reduces these risks. Women who are pregnant or that are trying to conceive should follow a gluten free diet and comply with the same dietary recommendations as non-Coeliacs, and these guidelines can be found in the Planning Your Pregnancy and During Your Pregnancy sections of this website.
For more information visit the Coeliac UK website.
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