Six hidden symptoms of crippling disease as two thirds of suffers go undiagnosed
Brits are being warned of six hidden symptoms of coeliac disease where many sufferers are undiagnosed.
While awareness of coeliac disease has risen in recent years, around two-third of the UK population who have the condition have not had it diagnosed - which equates to an estimated half a million people, states charity Coeliac UK.
Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. This damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients, states the NHS . It can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.
It is the result of an adverse reaction to gluten, which is a dietary protein found in three types of cereal: wheat, barley and rye. It's not entirely clear what causes the immune system to act this way, but a combination of genetics and the environment appear to play a part.
There's no cure for coeliac disease, but following a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of the condition. Along with classic symptoms, Future of Personal Health has compiled six less known signs here.
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Malabsorption
An impaired ability to absorb iron, folate, calcium and vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis, fertility problems, delayed growth and even some cancers. It can also contribute to brittle hair, nails and teeth.
Neurological and psychological
Fatigue and brain fog are commonly reported affects from coeliac disease while a list of other neurological and psychological symptoms include migraines, headaches, joint pain, tingling/pain in the extremities, poor balance, anxiety, irritability and sadness.
Oral and dental
Discoloured teeth, dental defects and mouth ulcers could be the result of coeliac disease.
Skin
A severe, chronic skin condition that could be caused by coeliac disease is dermatitis herpetiformis which is an extremely itchy rash with blistering skin.
Other autoimmune diseases
If you have an autoimmune disease then you are more likely to develop other similar conditions such as coeliac disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Type 1 diabetes, and Sjogren’s disease are some of the other autoimmune diseases that have been linked to coeliac disease.
No symptoms at all
Some people may be asymptomatic - have no symptoms of coeliac disease - but still they may have intestinal damage if they ingest gluten - even if they do not feel unwell. People with silent coeliac disease are often diagnosed from screening based on other risk factors such as family history.
And an academic study has also shown the dangers of ignoring the disease. “Patients with untreated CD are at risk of some diverse manifestations that include osteoporosis, infertility, lymphoma, and other autoimmune disorders, such as diabetes mellitus and thyroiditis,” stated Prof Gonul Caltepe of Ondokuz Mayıs University, who authored the research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
"Treatment with gluten-free diet precludes most of these complications. This raises the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, especially in subjects with silent CD. It is impossible to identify asymptomatic patients without screening. This study indicates that despite improved recognition rate of diagnosis there are still asymptomatic patients who are undiagnosed. Awareness should be increased, especially for individuals who are at a high risk for disease development."
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