By Annette Allison
Do you often have an upset tummy, and little or no energy? If you answered "yes", have you asked your doctor about it? If you haven't asked, why not? One in 100 people in Australia have coeliac disease, but 75 percent of them are not diagnosed and therefore don't know it.
"This is simply not good enough," stresses Kristine Ash, executive officer of the Coeliac Research Fund. "Untreated coeliac disease can kill. We are desperately trying to improve diagnosis rates with our new 'MOJO' campaign [see below], which encourages anyone with unexplained tiredness, bloating or tummy upsets to put their hand up and ask their doctor for coeliac tests."
Here Kristine answers some common questions about coeliac disease.
What is Coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is the most common hereditary autoimmune disease in the world, where gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley and oats) causes the body to produce antibodies that destroy the lining of the small bowel. In people with untreated coeliac disease, the "villi" (tiny, finger-like projections which absorb nutrients present in the bowel) become inflamed and flattened.
Imagine a shag pile carpet versus a threadbare carpet and you have a good idea of what happens to the villi of untreated coeliacs. Damaged in this way, they are unable to absorb the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we all need for healthy growth and bodily function. Sufferers become literally "starved" and their bodies can't function properly.
Who is most at risk?
Anyone who carries one of two genes HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8 may develop coeliac disease. It is a hereditary condition, so if one family member is affected, others may be, too.
What are the symptoms, and what should you do if you're experiencing them?
The most typical symptoms are extreme fatigue, bloating of the stomach, diarrhoea and/or constipation. If you have any one of these symptoms, ask your doctor for coeliac tests to either confirm or eliminate the presence of the disease.
Most importantly, do not self-diagnose by eliminating gluten from your diet before having the tests. You need a proper medical diagnosis to confirm or eliminate the presence of the disease and gauge the extent of damage to the small intestine. You also need to be properly advised about where gluten is found — it's not just in wheat, barley, oats and rye, but also in a myriad of processed foods.
Can undiagnosed coeliac disease cause long-term harm?
Yes, because it causes severe, long-term malnourishment, untreated coeliac disease can also lead to life-threatening conditions in later life such as liver disease and cancer. Osteoporosis and infertility are also common long-term complications in untreated coeliacs.
What is the treatment for coeliac disease?
The only current treatment for coeliac disease is to strictly eliminate gluten from your diet. Gluten is toxic to diagnosed coeliacs, and once they develop the disease, their intolerance to it is permanent and life-long.
Can it be prevented or cured?
No. Because it is a hereditary condition, if one family member develops coeliac disease, it is recommended that other family members are also tested for it.
For more information
Coeliac Awareness Week is from March 13-20 this year. The Coeliac Research Fund and The Coeliac Society are launching a new campaign to improve awareness and diagnosis of coeliac disease, called the MOJO campaign. And the message is simple: if you suffer from unexplained tiredness, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation:
- Make an appointment with your doctor
- Organise coeliac tests
- Judge the results with your doctor
- Omit gluten from your diet if your doctor advises it
For further information, visit
www.coeliacresearchfund.org or call 1300 990 273.
