It seems these days that people are more sensitive to the idea of food allergies and more and more people are abstaining from dairy and wheat believing themselves intolerant. Self diagnosis is never a good idea and it is really important to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns over the impact your diet is having on you.
Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten and it isn’t an allergy or an intolerance to gluten. We took good advice from www.nhs.com about this illness. Read on and if you notice anything any similarities to symptoms you are suffering with contact us or your GP to explore the possibility that you may be a sufferer.
When eating foods containing gluten, people with Coeliac disease notice a range of symptoms, such as:
diarrhoea – which may be particularly unpleasant smelling
bloating and flatulence (passing wind)
abdominal pain
weight loss
feeling tired all the time – as a result of malnutrition (not getting enough nutrients from food)
children not growing at the expected rate
Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
What causes coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is what is known as an autoimmune condition. This is where the immune system – the body’s defence against infection – mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In cases of coeliac disease, the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This damages the surface of the small bowel (intestines), disrupting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Exactly what causes the immune system to act in this way is still not entirely clear, although a combination of a person’s genetic make-up and the environment appear to play a part.
Gluten
Gluten is a protein found in three types of cereal:
wheat
barley
rye
Gluten is found in any food that contains the above cereals, including:
pasta
cakes
breakfast cereals
most types of bread
certain types of sauces
some types of ready meals
In addition, most beers are made from barley.
Treating coeliac disease
There is no cure for coeliac disease, but switching to a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent long term consequences of the disease. Even if symptoms are mild or non-existent it is still recommended to change your diet, as continuing to eat gluten can lead to serious complications.
It is important to make sure your gluten-free diet is healthy and balanced. An increase in the range of available gluten-free foods in recent years has made it possible to eat both a healthy and varied gluten-free diet.
Complications
Complications of coeliac disease only tend to affect people who continue to eat gluten, or who have yet to be diagnosed with the condition (which can be a common problem in milder cases. Potential long-term complications include osteoporosis and anaemia. Less common and more serious complications include those affecting pregnancy, such as low birth weight, and some types of cancers, such as bowel cancer.
For more information visit www.nhs.com for great advice and links to authorities on Coeliac disease. But if you are concerned get in touch with a medical professional to ensure you get a correct diagnosis.
This article was taken in part from www.nhs,com
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Disclaimer
All content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.