Coeliac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause diarrhoea, tiredness, abdominal pain, liver problems, anaemia, and sickness. It can also cause symptoms that may seem unrelated, such as migraines, brain fog, skin rashes, weight loss or gain, and tooth enamel issues.
Some countries spell it ‘celiac disease’, but it is the same condition. Other names include coeliac sprue, non-tropical sprue, gluten enteropathy or gluten-sensitive enteropathy.
Myths about coeliac disease
Many myths and misconceptions exist about this condition, and they’ve only grown as gluten-free diets have become more popular. Here’s our quick summary of myths:
- Coeliac disease is a food allergy or intolerance
- Only children get coeliac disease
- You can only get this condition if a family member has it
- People with coeliac disease can handle small amounts of gluten
- We can cure this condition
- It is not a serious problem
- It is rare
- There are no benefits to living with coeliac disease
We discuss these common myths in more detail below and explain the facts behind them.
‘Coeliac disease is a food allergy or intolerance’
You may believe it is an allergy or intolerance if you haven’t read or heard much about it. However, it is an autoimmune disorder that can cause over 15 known symptoms, some affecting your digestive tract and others the rest of your body.
An autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack the body, as it mistakenly confuses healthy cells and tissue for foreign cells. Different autoimmune conditions have various triggers (things that cause the reaction), and gluten is the trigger for this one.
‘Only children get coeliac disease’
While you may have heard that you can only be born with this condition, this is not true. People can develop this disorder later in life, even if they have had no problems in the past with eating gluten. On average, it takes 13 years to receive a diagnosis, and many people are diagnosed between 40-60 years old.
‘You can only get this condition if a family member has it’
Anyone can develop it, though there is a genetic element. Your risk is higher if a close family member has it, but you can get it even if none of your relatives have it.
It’s important to note that your symptoms may differ even if a family member does have it. While your relative may have the more well-known symptoms, you may experience different and possibly less well-known or rarer symptoms. Many people are asymptomatic, meaning they have no noticeable symptoms.
The only way to know for sure is to see a gastroenterologist (digestive health specialist) who can order blood tests, perform a biopsy during an upper endoscopy (gastroscopy), and then help you adopt a gluten-free diet (a type of dietary therapy) alongside a dietitian.
‘People with coeliac disease can handle small amounts of gluten’
It may sound extreme, but even a breadcrumb can cause intestinal damage if you have this disorder. You must avoid cross-contamination with gluten and wash all cooking equipment that has touched gluten before cooking your food.
In other words, no, people with this condition cannot handle small amounts of gluten, as they cannot have any. There are no ‘cheat days’ when it comes to avoiding gluten.
‘We can cure this condition’
This condition is not curable. Once it develops, it is a lifelong disorder. However, it is manageable on a gluten-free diet, and some people experience no symptoms after adapting their diet.
Attending a coeliac disease clinic may help you adjust your diet with less stress and understand your condition better. Our Consultant Gastroenterologist, Dr Sarmed Sami, and our dietitian, Cristian Costas, run our one-stop coeliac clinic.
‘It is not a serious problem’
It may sound like a minor issue to those who do not have it, but it can cause a range of severe symptoms and, if untreated or poorly managed, lead to many health problems.
Complications include:
- Weight loss
- Anaemia
- Nerve damage
- Lactose intolerance
- Depression and anxiety
- Weakening of your bones
- Infertility and miscarriages
- Malabsorption and malnutrition
- Giving birth to a baby with a low birth weight
- Functional hyposplenism (poor spleen function)
People with this condition must strictly follow a gluten-free diet to avoid these problems.
‘It is rare’
Although it’s a common condition, plenty of people in the UK have it and are unaware. In fact, many celebrities that you may have heard of have it, including Caroline Quentin, Michael Obiora, Zooey Deschanel, Emmy Rossum and Dr Chris Steele MBE. Even Katharine, Duchess of Kent, has it.
The symptoms can overlap with other health problems and are sometimes misdiagnosed or mistaken for part of ageing. At Digestive Health UK, we are aiming to raise awareness of the condition and its effect to help more people receive an accurate diagnosis.
‘There are no benefits to living with coeliac disease’
We understand that it can be hard to adjust your diet and take on the burden of always considering what you can and can’t eat. However, our patients have shared positive experiences in learning about their condition.
For example, learning more about your diet and the food you consume can improve your overall health. Taking the time to discover how different foods affect your body means you can make an informed decision about the foods you eat and how often you have them. You might uncover much more than you expected, leading to a more varied, healthier diet.
By learning how to address it effectively, you can also prevent complications or other health problems and possibly educate other family members or friends with this condition.
Visit our private one-stop coeliac disease clinic
While many myths exist, Dr Sarmed Sami and Cristian Costas are here to guide you with accurate information and personalised advice.
At Digestive Health UK, our one-stop coeliac clinic is designed to provide an early diagnosis, in-depth condition knowledge, and a tailored treatment plan.
