Aisling murray from whelehans pharmacy coeliac disease

What causes Coeliac disease?
The body produces antibodies which help protect against bacteria and viruses with disease causing properties. In the case of coeliac disease the body recognises gluten as an invader. Why this happens is unknown.  The body releases antibodies from the immune system to combat the gluten and in turn attacks the intestinal lining. As a result the intestinal wall becomes inflamed and the villi are damaged. This reduces the absorption of essential nutrients. Coeliac disease can develop at any point in life.

Common symptoms of Coeliac disease
There is no one symptom that fits all, likewise if you suffer from one or more of these symptoms it does not mean you are coeliac. The only way to indicate if you have coeliac is by receiving a physical exam from a doctor. Gastrointestinal symptoms include:Digestive problems (bloating, cramping, weight loss, diarrhoea) Constipation Lactose intolerance (common when first diagnosed, will subside after treatment) Nausea, vomiting Stools that float, are foul smelling, bloody or fatty. Some other symptoms may occur over time:Anaemia - iron malabsorption may cause iron deficiency anaemia (low blood count).Dermatitis herpetiformis (severe itchy skin) Growth failure or pubertal delay in children. Hair loss, seizures, nosebleeds, fatigue, muscle cramps, joint pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet.

Diagnosing Coeliac disease
If your doctor suspects you have coeliac disease, a blood test will be performed. The blood tests will detect several special antibodies, called antitissue transglutaminase antibodies (Ttga).  If the test is positive an upper endoscopy (a thin, hollow tube) will be performed going from your mouth into the small intestine and a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the small intestine will be taken. This examines if any damage has been caused to the villi.  A follow up biopsy or blood test will be performed several months down the line to monitor your response to treatment. A normal result means that you have responded well to treatment, which confirms diagnosis. However, this does not mean the disease has been cured.

Treatment to Coeliac disease
Once diagnosed with coeliac disease, gluten can no longer be consumed. Avoiding gluten will help improve your condition within a few days and symptoms will eventually disappear. In the majority of cases the villi will be healed within six months, meaning you will absorb essential nutrients.
Unfortunately once you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease a gluten free diet is something you will need to be on for life. If gluten is consumed at all it will cause damage to the intestine and restart the issue and some symptoms will return.

Whelehans Nutrition Service
Whelehans nutritional service is a private one to one advice service with our nutritionist Aisling Murray. Aisling’s areas of interest include weight loss management, nutrition education and food intolerance. Our nutrition service offers you the chance to change your life in a positive way by focusing on your overall wellbeing as well as the chance to follow up on your progress.

Aisling Murray has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and offers a one to one specialist nutrition service at Whelehans Pharmacy. Call Whelehans at 04493 34591 for an appointment

This article is shortened to fit within newspaper space limits. More detailed information and leaflets are available in Whelehans.