coeliac disease – Hello Doctor

What is Coeliac disease, and how is it treated?

October 31st, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Gluten-free diets have become very popular, and now it’s easier than ever to find gluten-free food. Is it necessary though? Probably not. Unless you actually have coeliac disease – a severe gluten allergy.

What Is Coeliac Disease?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. And for people who have coeliac disease, gluten damages their small intestine, which makes it difficult to absorb nutrients from food and drink. Coeliac disease often goes undiagnosed, which is where the danger comes in, as it can damage organs. However, with the right treatment, it can be managed completely.

What are the Symptoms of Coeliac Disease?

Symptoms can vary from person to person, but there are a few common symptoms. Make an appointment to see your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms of coeliac disease:

Recurring diarrhoea
Bloated stomach – especially after eating
Heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux
Children that aren’t growing or developing normally
Unexplained or unintentional weight loss

Who’s at Risk for Coeliac Disease?

Even though you might not experience symptoms, there are certain factors which put you at risk of coeliac disease:

If you have another disease, for example Type 1 Diabetes, which often occurs together with coeliac disease
If you have a close relative such as a parent, sibling, or child with coeliac disease
If you have health problems like osteoporosis and iron deficiency, which can be caused by coeliac disease

If you have any of these risk factors, then speak to your doctor about screening for coeliac.

Healthy Living with Coeliac Disease

Naturally, the first major step is maintaining a gluten-free diet. It’s also important to:

Keep informed about your condition, and research quality websites and support groups
Focus on your overall health: commit to living gluten-free, eating well and exercise regularly
Find out which restaurants cater for gluten-free diners, ask when you’re making a reservation and make sure that they can accommodate your dietary requirements
If you have a child with coeliac disease, let friends’ parents know that your child can’t eat gluten.
Plan ahead – if you’re going to be travelling thing about what gluten-free food you can take with you, if your options are limited.

Gluten-Free Food Shopping

It’s not as difficult as it may seem. Just be sure to go for fresh, unprocessed foods that are naturally gluten-free. This includes vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products and certain grains such as rice and pure oats. Corn, soy, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, and quinoa are also gluten-free grains.

It’s also important to get into the habit of checking nutritional labels on packaged foods, drinks, snacks and even medication.

“Don’t eat that – it has gluten!”

September 7th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Giving up gluten appears to be quite a trend, and those swearing by it, can be somewhat evangelical in their approach. Before you simply run after the trend, let’s take a step back, and first look at the facts. Who really does need to give up gluten altogether?

What is gluten?

Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, rye and barley. It plays a key role in baking, allowing bread-dough to rise when yeast is added, and giving confectionary its lightness.

Where is it found?

Gluten is found in any product that contains wheat and similar cereals, but it can also be a hidden component in bottled salad dressings, medications, vitamins, some soy sauces, and lip balms. Always read labels for the list of ingredients.

Who is affected?

Three types of people may not be able to eat products containing gluten: people with gluten sensitivity or intolerance, people with Coeliac disease, and people with a wheat allergy

Gluten sensitivity sufferers can experience diarrhoea, nausea or become bloated when they eat gluten, but do not show any intestinal damage. This condition is still being studied.
For Coeliac disease, when gluten is eaten, the body triggers an attack on the intestines, making it more difficult for nutrients to be absorbed as damage occurs over time. Coeliac disease is an auto-immune disorder where even tiny amounts of gluten trigger an attack on the lining of the bowel. So, it’s important that people with this condition avoid any exposure to gluten?
People with an allergy to wheat may not have a specific allergy to gluten, but may choose to avoid it in case of cross-contamination.

Symptoms of Coeliac disease

Eating foods containing gluten can trigger a range of symptoms, such as:

bloating and flatulence (passing wind)
diarrhoea – which may be particularly unpleasant smelling
abdominal pain
weight loss
feeling tired all the time – as a result of malnutrition
children not growing at the expected rate

Don’t just stop eating wheat

If you are experiencing chronic bloating, diarrhoea or nausea, visit your gastroenterologist. Simply giving up something in your diet, may mask a more serious underlying condition.

If your doctor verifies a diagnosis, then a diet high in fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, low-fat dairy, lean meats, legumes, nuts and seeds is a safe bet, and is not difficult nor expensive to follow.

Watch out for these

Friends and family can sometimes lack understanding that people with Coeliac disease must avoid gluten all the time and altogether – print out some current medical information to help them understand the condition.

Also, don’t imagine that a gluten-free diet is the magic key to losing weight: for many it can have the opposite effect as they substitute alternative baked goods/flours, and too much of these foods can lead to weight gain.

If you have any other gut-related symptoms, and you want a bit more advice, why not talk to one of our doctors? Just sign-up, and they can call you back within the hour – day or night!

(Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com)

Sources:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/truth-about-gluten

10 Symptoms of gluten intolerance

June 2nd, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Does eating a pizza leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable? Do you often struggle with headaches, migraines and other symptoms like heartburn? The answer, it turns out, could be sitting on your plate.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and around 1 in 10 people have an intolerance to it. Could you be one of them? If you battle with any combination of these symptoms, then you could be gluten intolerant. To be sure though, speak to your doctor about getting tested.

The main symptoms are:

Feeling bloated and uncomfortable, especially when you eat bread, pasta or pastries
If you’ve already been diagnosed with IBS or acid reflux
Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
Migraine or headaches
Joint pains, aches and inflammation or swelling in your fingers, knees or hips
Feeling “foggy” or “fuzzy” after eating something that has gluten in it
Suffering from anxiety or depression
Suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
Suffering from eczema or acne
Hormonal imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or fertility issues

Test Yourself for Gluten Intolerance

You can test yourself for gluten intolerance by going on an elimination diet. This means eliminating all gluten for at least 2 weeks, noting any changes, and then slowly re-introducing it to see if the symptoms return.

If you generally feel much better when you’re off gluten, or start feeling worse when you re-introduce it, then it could indicate a gluten intolerance. Don’t self-diagnose though, speak to your doctor so you can find out for sure.

Find out more: What is Gluten?