Imagine having to think of the consequences every time you kiss your partner. Imagine life without pizza, fish and chips, or beer, or having to scrutinise every food label in the supermarket or every dish on a restaurant menu. These are just some of the problems faced every day by the estimated 250,000 people in the UK who have an intolerance to gluten known as coeliac disease (pronounced ceeliac).
Never heard of it? Surprisingly, not many people have, yet it is the most common genetic condition in Europe with recent studies indicating that an estimated 1:100 people might be affected in the UK without knowing it.
In fact, coeliac disease is the least known and understood of all food allergies/intolerances, yet it is probably the most prevalent and can result in serious health problems if left untreated. Wheat allergy appears to be more common and is better known, but could it really but undiagnosed coeliac disease?
Faced with this dilemma, Coeliac UK declared Thursday, May 20, Coeliac Awareness Day with the aim of raising awareness by informing and educating both the public and GPs of the symptoms and signs of coeliac disease.
Coeliac disease is caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats, yet it can be treated very successfully by excluding gluten from the diet. The disease can lead to far more serious conditions such as osteoporosis, infertility and gut cancer if left untreated.
The symptoms are very individual, but can include tiredness, anaemia, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, vomiting and mouth ulcers. Coeliac disease in children can stunt growth and have a significant impact on a child's overall development.
"We now have the evidence to confirm what we have always suspected, that there could be many people who have undiagnosed coeliac disease," stated Norma McGough, dietitian at Coeliac UK. "What concerns us is the number of people who think they have a wheat allergy or Irritable Bowel Syndrome when they could have coeliac disease which needs to be diagnosed and managed by a medical team. Through our awareness day, we want to try and reach as many people as possible who might be at risk in the hope that they will go to their GP for screening."
Coeliac UK support over 90 volunteer groups around the country and many took an active part in Coeliac Awareness Day. From awareness building to fund-raising, ideas included gluten-free dinner parties, challenging a local food college to cook gluten-free for a day and discovering just how friendly local pubs and restaurants are to gluten-free eating. Money raised as a result of the day will go to improving diagnosis and care for coeliacs and people with dermatitis herpetiformis - a related skin condition.
• Around 700 newly diagnosed people are joining Coeliac UK every month. Members receive an annual Food and Drink Directory which lists over 11,000 foods coeliacs eat, Crossed Grain - a regular magazine, as well as information and telephone support.
There are over 200 coeliacs in Pembrokeshire.
For more information, ring Margaret Lloyd on 01646 693599 or Lynn Hobbs on 01646 697921.