The NHS has said that if you have bloating often despite making lifestyle changes such as eating less or exercising more, then you could have a common condition you need to be tested for. But if you notice an improvement, you need to be careful with your diet.
As states on the NHS inform website, coeliac disease is a common autoimmune condition where the immune system in a person’s intestine (gut) reacts when they eat gluten. This causes chronic inflammation and can result in bloating, fatigue as well as a numbness and tingling sensation.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and is therefore found in a number of food and drink items which we have on a daily basis. This includes:
- most types of bread
- pasta
- cakes
- biscuits
- crackers
- many breakfast cereals
- pastry
- certain types of sauces
- some types of ready meals
- most beers and lagers
- certain fruit squashes
Because these foods often form part of our daily diet and with coeliac disease affecting one person in every 100, it’s worth noting the symptoms and whether it gets worse when you have any of the above food or drinks. Often people will call this period of worsening symptoms a flare-up.
What are the symptoms of Coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease can trigger a range of symptoms in the digestive system and throughout the body. Symptoms can emerge at any stage of life, but coeliac disease is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60 years.
The symptoms of coeliac disease differ from individual to individual and can range from mild to severe. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all.
Some common symptoms of coeliac disease include:
- severe diarrhoea, excessive wind and/or constipation
- persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting
- recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating
- iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
- anaemia
- tiredness
- sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases)
- mouth ulcers
- skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
- depression
- repeated miscarriages
- neurological (nerve) problems such as ataxia (loss of coordination, poor balance) and peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)
Sometimes the symptoms of coeliac disease are mistaken for:
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- wheat intolerance
- stress
- just getting older
The NHS warns that if you tick any of theses signs and symptoms thn you should talk to your GP. But do not stop eating gluten as you will need to eat gluten when getting tested to ensure an accurate result.
You can take Coeliac UK’s online assessment here to see whether you could have the common condition.