Only 36% of coeliac disease sufferers in the UK are diagnosed, compared to about 1 in 100 people. Knowing what signs to look out for is therefore crucial.
Olympian Rebecca Adlington has been supported by fans after opening up about her life-changing health condition. The 36-year-old recently revealed she’d been diagnosed with coeliac disease, a condition that affects around one in 100 people in the UK.
Despite being estimated to affect 1% of the population, just 36% of people living with the autoimmune disease, which is caused by a reaction to gluten, are clinically diagnosed. However, when people with coeliac disease eat gluten it can lead to complications such as nutritional deficiencies and osteoporosis, meaning it’s vital that people are aware of the symptoms.
In a previous interview with The Mirror, Emma McKay discussed her experience of being diagnosed. Now 26, Emma was a teen when she received her diagnosis, though revealed that she’d been “ill for a few years” prior to receiving an answer after experiencing two main symptoms.
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“I was diagnosed with coeliac ten years ago, in my fifth year of secondary school. I had a few years of illness. I was told every time I visited the doctor that my anxiety was likely brought on by work and exams. She claimed that I was losing weight quickly and couldn’t stand up straight without gasping.
“I eventually brought my mother to the appointment. Crohn’s and coeliac disease were tested by the doctor. I was diagnosed with coeliac antibodies, and an endoscopy revealed that I didn’t have any villi, which are tiny hair-like projections that are responsible for absorbing nutrients.
Following her diagnosis, Emma was forced to drastically alter her lifestyle by adopting a strict gluten-free diet. Making the adjustments, however, wasn’t always simple. Being diagnosed at age 16, especially at such a crucial time in life, wastraumatic. She continued, “I wasn’t well enough to enjoy things that other teenagers were doing.”
“The only treatment available was a gluten free diet, which completely turned my world upside down. Silly things like seeing my family enjoy ‘normal’ food like biscuits and cakes was really frustrating as I began to navigate my new norm.” Cross contamination is a really important issue for those living with coeliac disease. Emma found herself becoming ill after some people around her didn’t take her needs seriously.
“I lived in hostels with new people when I was in college, and I didn’t initially take my diagnosis seriously. I began to be very strict with my diet after a few months of feeling isolated and eating gluten, which made me extremely ill.
Emma started a food blog, The Student Coeliac, in 2017 to share her journey and connect with other people. Her quick growth in popularity and her position as an Assistant Brand Manager at Genius (geniusfood.com), a gluten-free bakery based in Edinburgh, led to her becoming an avid follower.
The NHS states that coeliac disease is a condition where the immune system attacks tissue if you consume gluten, damaging your small intestine so your body isn’t able to properly take in nutrients. The most common and perhaps well known symptoms include bloating, diarrhoea, stomach pain and tiredness.
“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,” Dr Alasdair Scott, a gut health specialist at Selph says.
“Coeliac disease can strike anyone at any age, but it is most prevalent between the ages of 30 and 50. Although it affects both sexes, women are more likely than men to have coeliac disease diagnosed. Coeliac disease is also more prevalent in people in your family if it is passed on by another person.
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Source: Mirror
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