What is coeliac disease? The condition Rebecca Adlington shares with 1 in 100 people
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The underdiagnosed condition that 1 in 100 people in the UK have
- Rebecca Adlington, Olympic gold medalist and BBC Sports presenter, is the latest public figure to be diagnosed with coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition affecting 1 in 100 people in the UK.
- Coeliac disease causes the body to attack its own tissues when gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, is consumed. This leads to digestive problems and prevents proper nutrient absorption.
- Symptoms vary but can include diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, anemia, and skin rashes. Some individuals may also have no noticeable symptoms (silent coeliac disease).
- If left undiagnosed or untreated, coeliac disease can lead to serious long-term health complications like osteoporosis, infertility, neurological issues, and in rare cases, small bowel cancer.
- A strict lifelong gluten-free diet is the only effective management strategy for coeliac disease.