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Coeliacs Disease
What is Coeliacs Disease
Coeliac disease is a medical condition where gluten (found
in wheat, barley, rye and oats) causes food to be imperfectly
absorbed. This leads to damage to the lining of the small
bowel. CD can occur at any age.
There are varying degrees of gluten and wheat intolerances. Someone
with these intolerances does not necessarily have Coeliac Disease.
Symptoms
The symptoms can vary from none to all of the following: diarrhoea,
constipation (or a combination of both), flatulence, bloating indigestion,
nausea and vomiting. Commonly this is accompanied by fatigue, weight-loss,
anaemia and other nutritional deficiencies.
Diagnosis
A simple blood test for gliadin and endomyslial antibodies
followed by a small bowel biopsy is required.
Links
www.coeliac.co.nz
Lactose Intolerance
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts
of lactose, the predominant sugar of milk. This inability results
from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced
by the cells that line the small intestine.
Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms that can then
be absorbed into the bloodstream. When there is not enough lactase
to digest the amount of lactose consumed, the results, although
not usually dangerous, may be very distressing.
While not all persons deficient in lactase have symptoms, those
who do are considered to be lactose intolerant.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and
diarrhea, which begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating
or drinking foods containing lactose. The severity of symptoms
varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual
can tolerate. |
