Coeliac Disease Often Goes Undetected – These Are The 5 Signs Most People Miss

Black woman holding hands over abdomen.According to Coeliac UK, coeliac disease affects at least 1 in 100 people in the UK and in Europe but only just over a third of people with the condition have been clinically diagnosed. Additionally, according to The Association of British Dietitians, 75% of Brits with coeliac disease don’t actually realise that they have it. This is because while we associate coeliac disease with bloating, diarrhoea, stomach pain and tiredness, the condition is actually all-encompassing and the symptoms are often attributed to different diseases.So, what is coeliac disease?Dr Alasdair Scott, a gut health specialist at Selph, explains: “Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition, where something triggers in your body to mount an immune response against itself. In the case of coeliac disease, gluten is the trigger. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.“Gluten itself is harmless and the majority of us can eat it without any issues. However, in about 1-in-100 people, gluten triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the small bowel causing inflammation.”Dr Scott also adds that the disease can affect you at any age but the most common ages to be diagnosed with it are between 30 and 50.“It affects both sexes, but women are more likely to be diagnosed with coeliac disease than men. You’re also more likely to have coeliac disease if someone else in your family has it.“Around two thirds of people with coeliac disease experience common symptoms. These include diarrhoea, weight loss, stomach pain, bloating and flatulence, fatty floating stools, and tiredness.”However, he adds, although two-thirds of people with the disease will experience these symptoms, this still leaves a huge number of people that do not. What are the lesser-known symptoms of coeliac disease?Anaemia (low iron)Dr Scott says: “Coeliac disease affects iron absorption and it’s not uncommon for iron deficiency anaemia to be the only sign of a problem in people with coeliac disease.“Signs of anaemia include being very pale in the skin, having a constant, unexplained lack of energy and general feelings of weakness in the body.”Low bone density“Coeliac disease affects the absorption of vitamin D and calcium, both of which are crucial for bone health”, explains Dr Scott.“Indications of a low bone density include back pain, which could be caused by a broken or collapsed bone in the spine, a stooped posture, or a bone that breaks much more easily than expected.”Tingling and numbnessSurprisingly, Dr Scott explains, even tingling can be due to the disease.“The disease can also damage nerve fibres causing abnormalities in sensation or pins and needles. This mainly affects the arms and legs, so if you feel an unusual tingly sensation, it’s best to get this checked out.”Infertility“Many women with coeliac disease have a history of infertility... Although there are many reasons infertility can happen, it’s a good idea to test for coeliac disease if you are struggling to conceive.”Skin rashFinally, people with coeliac disease can experience skin rashes.“About 1-in-10 people with coeliac disease get an itchy, bumpy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis. These small, clustered papules and vesicles usually erupt on the elbows, knees, buttocks, back or scalp. They can also sometimes appear on the face and groin.”How to find out if you have coeliac diseaseThe bottom line is that if you want to know if you have coeliac disease, you need to take a coeliac disease blood test and you need to take one sooner rather than later”, Dr Scott adds.“If this blood test is negative and you’ve had gluten in your diet in the weeks before testing, you can be confident that you don’t have coeliac disease. On the other hand, if your antibody level is raised, it’s very likely that you have coeliac disease.”Related...Rebecca Adlington's Coeliac Diagnosis Reminds Us That Being Gluten-Free Isn’t A TrendHow To Make Gluten-Free Pizza Dough And A Fluffy Herb Focaccia'Fart Walks' May Be The Secret To Healthy Ageing, Doctor Says

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