A dietician is encouraging people to get tested for coeliac disease ahead of its upcoming awareness week.
The condition affects up to 75,000 people in Ireland, but figures suggest that around 63,000 of these cases remain undetected amongst the population. Sarah explained that many people present with mild symptoms of the disease such as bloating or fatigue, leading them to shrug off any discomfort.
However, coeliac disease can heavily impact quality of life if left untreated. Sarah said that it can contribute towards the risk of cancer, osteoporosis and also can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth without proper vigilance.
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She said: "The good thing is it's very treatable but it's so important to get people their diagnosis ahead of time. We're also trying to raise awareness amongst families who have a relative with coeliac disease to get tested themselves, even if they don't have any symptoms."
Coeliac disease can vary greatly from person to person. Sarah said that common signs of the disease include recurrent diarrhoea or constipation, happening at least twice a month.
Itchy and blistery rashes can also spell out coeliac disease, although these only occur in about 10 per cent of patients. A creamy, blistering rash that fails to go away has been linked to the illness and Sarah urges people to get themselves checked out.
Coealic Awareness Week begins next month with several webinars and in person events planned. The Coeliac Society of Ireland is based in Clondalkin and even has a shop, which stocks items free from gluten, the protein which causes an adverse reaction in coeliac patients.
Sarah added: "We also produce a gluten free food list each year. While manufacturers legally have to tell you if gluten is an ingredient in their product, it's optional to say whether it brushed off other foods."
She continued: "We ask if ingredients are touching wheat because if that's the case, they're no longer suitable. That book we produce is essential and it gets updated each year because ingredients and products are constantly changing."
The Coeliac Society also runs monthly cooking events that equip people with delicious gluten free recipes. Dietary services are available through the charity at a significantly reduced rate.
Coealic Awareness Week starts on May 15. People can register online to attend free talks and learn more about coeliac disease in Ireland.
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