What is Coeliac Disease, and do you have it?

Do you often feel bloated after eating, suffer from skin rashes, or have joint pain? These could all be signs of an autoimmune disorder known as Coeliac Disease.

Coeliac Disease is a serious condition that can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms and even long-term health problems if left untreated. Therefore, it’s important to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this condition so that you can manage it effectively.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what Coeliac Disease is and discuss how to determine whether or not you may have it. We’ll also provide some tips on managing your symptoms and offer information about our Coeliac Home Test Kit, which provides an easy way to test for the presence of Coeliac antibodies in your blood.

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the lining of the small intestine, leading to a range of unpleasant symptoms. As a result, people with Coeliac Disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to manage their condition.

The damage caused by Coeliac Disease makes it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients from food, which can lead to deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals. If left untreated, this can cause further health problems such as fatigue, bone loss, or anaemia. Coeliac Disease can also increase your risk of developing other conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes or thyroid problems.

Symptoms of Coeliac Disease

The symptoms of Coeliac Disease can vary from person to person, but some common signs include bloating and abdominal pain after eating gluten-containing foods, fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes such as dermatitis herpetiformis, weight loss or gain, anaemia, or other vitamin deficiencies.

Causes of Coeliac Disease

Coeliac Disease is caused by an immune reaction to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. While the exact cause of this immune reaction is not known, it’s believed to be triggered by genetic and environmental factors.

Risk factors for Coeliac Disease

The risk factors for developing Coeliac Disease include having a family history of the condition, being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, and other genetic conditions. People who have had an organ transplant may also be at higher risk as their immune systems may not respond normally if they eat gluten. Other environmental factors, such as stress and certain medications, could also increase the risk.

How is Coeliac Disease diagnosed?

Coeliac Disease can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are often similar to other digestive conditions. The only way to definitively diagnose Coeliac Disease is through a blood test that looks for certain antibodies, such as IgA endomysial antibodies. These tests can indicate whether your immune system is attacking gluten in your food.

Treating Coeliac Disease

The most effective treatment for Coeliac Disease is a strict gluten free diet. This means avoiding all foods and products that contain wheat, rye, barley, and other grains.

Maintaining this type of diet can be difficult since gluten is found in many common food items such as breads, cereals, pastas, and even some condiments. However, with careful planning and dedication to the diet, it is possible to manage the symptoms of Coeliac Disease.

In addition to following a strict gluten-free diet, there are also certain medications available that can help reduce inflammation in the digestive system caused by Coeliac Disease.

Additionally, probiotics may also be recommended as they can help restore balance in your gut bacteria which has been disrupted due to damage from Coeliac Disease.

Finally, dietary supplements, including iron or vitamin D, might also need to be taken depending on any deficiencies caused by the disorder itself or its treatment regime.

What is the outlook for people with Coeliac Disease?

People with Coeliac Disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to manage their condition and avoid long-term health complications.

If left untreated, Coeliac Disease can lead to deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals, which can cause further health issues such as fatigue, bone loss, or anaemia.

People with Coeliac Disease may also be at higher risk of developing other conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes or thyroid problems. It is, therefore, important that those suspected of having the disorder get tested so they can begin treatment right away.

Get tested

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with Coeliac Disease, it’s important to get tested right away.

At Better2Know, we offer a convenient and reliable home test kit for Coeliac Disease that can provide an accurate diagnosis quickly and easily. With our help, managing this condition doesn’t have to be overwhelming – let us take care of the testing while you focus on taking control of your health.

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