Coeliac Awareness Week 2019: What is Coeliac disease? Symptoms, blood tests and gluten free diets explained
Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, and a glut of celebrity influencers have been encouraging us to shun it for a myriad of health reasons.
But for around one percent of the population diagnosed as coeliacs, gluten is a health risk and is crucial to avoid. Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disease that is triggered by gluten, and not sticking to a gluten-free diet can increase the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis, neurological conditions and infertility.
While there hasn't been a sudden increase in people with coealic disease, awareness of it has been increasing and diagnoses are on the up. However, it is thought that around half a million people in the UK are still living with it undiagnosed.
This week marks Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2019, a charity-run campaign encouraging people who think they may have the disease to get their symptoms checked by a doctor. With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about coeliac disease.
When is Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2019?
The campaign runs all week from today, Monday May 13, until Saturday, May 19.
What is Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2019?
It is campaign run by the charity Coeliac UK, will be focusing on raising awareness of the disease.
Around 500,000 people in the UK are currently undiagnosed and the charity wants to change that.
Bosses are hoping people will spread the word to reach people who might not know they have it, and are encouraging those who may have similar symptoms to get them tested by a doctor.
What is coeliac disease?
It's important to note that coeliac disease is not an intolerance or an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten, where the body’s immune system damages the lining of the small bowel when it is eaten.
When someone with the disease eats gluten, the small intestine becomes inflamed and disrupts the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food.
However, despite the popularity of gluten-free diets, experts say there is no need for most people who don't suffer from coeliac disease to avoid it, so it is important to be tested to rule this out first.
What are the symptoms of coeliac disease?
When someone with the disease eats gluten, the gut-lining is damaged and will cause the person to become severely ill within a few hours.
Symptoms include severe diarrhoea and vomiting and can last several days. If a gluten free diet is not followed, the disease can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other complications such as osteoporosis, a rare type of bowel cancer of the small bowel and unexplained infertility problems. If left untreated it can lead to anaemia, unexplained infertility, neurological conditions such as gluten ataxia (a disorder that affects co-ordination, balance and speech) and neuropathy, and although rare, there is an increased risk of small bowel cancer and intestinal lymphoma.
Symptoms are similar to those found in people with IBS such as bloating, stomach pains or cramp, diarrhoea or constipation and feeling exhausted. Coeliac disease is often misdiagnosed as IBS, so if you suffer from these symptoms it is best to visit a doctor.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye and barley and helps foods maintain their shape – acting as a glue that holds it together.
It can be found in many items of food such as baked goods, cereals and sauces.
What is a gluten free diet?
A gluten free diet is one that cuts out all forms of gluten, a protein found in flour. Sources include breads, pasta, cereals, cake and biscuits.
Some people with coeliac disease are also sensitive to oats.
Family favourites such as fish fingers, gravies, sausages, sauces, soups, stock cubes, soy sauce and even chocolate and salad dressing can have gluten in them as well, so it is advised to check the labels beforehand.
It is also important to be aware of cross contamination of gluten free food with gluten. Sources include breadcrumbs in toasters and on bread boards, knifes and spoons used for spreading jam, butter or chutney on toast and also from cooking oil and water.
Is there a cure for coeliac disease?
Coeliac UK says it is a myth that you can grow out of the disease as there is no cure for it. Once diagnosed, you have it for life.
Following a strict gluten free diet for life is the only available treatment for people with the condition.
What causes coeliac disease? Is it hereditary or are you born with it?
Coeliac disease is believed to be a genetic condition and runs in families. According to the charity, if someone in a family has the condition there is a one in 10 chance of a close relative developing the disease.
What to do if you think you have coeliac disease?
Anyone who has symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation is encouraged to ask their GP to test them for coaliac disease.
Often coeliac disease is misdiagnosed as IBS, and NICE guidelines recommends that anyone with IBS symptoms should be tested for coealiac disease before a diagnosis is made.
How can you test for coeliac disease?
The first step is to discuss your symptoms with your GP, who can take a simple blood test to check for antibodies. In someone with coeliac disease, antibodies are produced by the body in response to eating gluten.
If you have a positive antibody blood test, your GP will then refer you to a hospital specialist for a gut biopsy.
It is important to continue eating gluten until the diagnoses process is complete otherwise you will have false test results.
An online assessment at Coeliac UK can help you understand more if you think you have the symptoms. Find out more here.
What is it like living with coeliac disease?
Louise, a student from Buckinghamshire, was diagnosed with coeliac disease last year. She told the Standard: "Symptoms do improve after being diagnosed and being on the gluten free diet.
"I am quite nervous when eating out as you have to put all your trust in a restaurant to not only understand about gluten free ingredients but also the importance of not cross contaminating my food."
How does coeliac disease impact day to day life?
The 20-year-old added: "In a word - planning! If I am out for the day and unsure there will be anywhere that can provide safe gluten free food, which can be the case especially if travelling, I have to take my own packed lunch with me. If I'm going out for a meal with friends I have to call up beforehand to make sure that they can provide safe food."
What advice would you give to other coeliacs?
Louise said: "I would recommend you sign up to be a member of Coeliac UK and download their Gluten Free Food Checker app – it makes shopping so much easier."
Norma McGough Coeliac UK director of policy, research and campaigns at the charity added: "It is essential that awareness of the symptoms increases and GPs adhere to the NICE guidelines.
"We urge anyone who has symptoms such as ongoing bloating, diarrhoea or constipation and has been given a diagnosis of IBS but not been tested for coeliac disease to ask their GP to test them for coeliac disease."
