The underdiagnosed condition that 1 in 100 people in the UK have
Rebecca Adlington, Olympic gold medalist and BBC Sports presenter, is the latest public figure to be diagnosed with coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition affecting 1 in 100 people in the UK.
Coeliac disease causes the body to attack its own tissues when gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, is consumed. This leads to digestive problems and prevents proper nutrient absorption.
Symptoms vary but can include diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, anemia, and skin rashes. Some individuals may also have no noticeable symptoms (silent coeliac disease).
If left undiagnosed or untreated, coeliac disease can lead to serious long-term health complications like osteoporosis, infertility, neurological issues, and in rare cases, small bowel cancer.
A strict lifelong gluten-free diet is the only effective management strategy for coeliac disease.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Courier
8 hours ago
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Emergency warning as NHS Tayside prostate cancer patients wait 218 days for treatment
Men in Tayside are facing agonising delays of more than seven months between being referred with suspected prostate cancer and starting treatment, The Courier can reveal. New figures show that two men who eventually received treatment in 2024 each waited 218 days — more than 30 weeks — from referral to the first step in their care. The official target for cancer care in Scotland is that 95% of patients referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer should begin treatment within 62 days. But in the first quarter of last year, just 17.6% of prostate cancer patients in NHS Tayside were treated on time. While that figure improved slightly to 36.2% in the summer months, it deteriorated again to 22.6% in the final quarter. Median waits reached 90 days between October and December – a full month beyond the national standard. The data, released under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, covers only those patients who went on to be treated – meaning those still waiting or never treated at all are not counted. The health board's performance is among the worst in Scotland and comes amid renewed focus on prostate cancer following the revelation that Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medallist, is receiving treatment for the disease. Sir Chris, 49, went public with his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis last year, after learning of his condition 'completely out of the blue' in September 2023. He said the experience was 'a huge shock' and has since urged men not to delay getting tested. 'One simple check really can save lives,' he said. The impact of his message was immediate. NHS England reported a 672% increase in traffic to its prostate cancer symptom pages following his announcement. Yet in Tayside, the data suggests patients are still being let down. Labour MSP Michael Marra, who obtained the figures, described the delays as 'horrific'. 'They lay bare the life-threatening reality of this core cancer service under the SNP,' he said. 'Imagine being told you may well have prostate cancer, but you have to wait until the middle of January next year for an appointment. 'That is the reality for patients and families across Tayside, with waits of up to 218 days. 'The collapse of this service will mean months of anxious waits and lives lost that could have been saved with timely treatment. 'Constituents are contacting me telling of having to go private at great expense to have vital prostate surgery.' Last year, we reported that NHS Tayside met the 62-day target in just 60% of all cancer cases — below the national average of 73.5%, and far below the 95% standard. For urological cancers, the national figure was just 49%. In a statement, NHS Tayside acknowledged that urology is its most challenged cancer specialty, citing long-standing workforce shortages. 'We recognise that waiting times are longer than we would like and understand this is distressing,' an NHS spokesperson said. 'We've recently appointed a new urology consultant and developed a cancer improvement plan, including more specialist nurses, expanded training, and new diagnostic equipment.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government was investing an additional £14 million to tackle cancer waiting times, with urology a key priority. He said the funding would support over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures in 2025–26. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Scotland, with around 4,300 new cases diagnosed each year, according to Prostate Cancer UK. Risk increases with age, and men with a family history are at higher risk. It is less common in men under 50 but can be aggressive when it does occur. Last month, Sir Chris shared a positive update. 'I'm doing well,' he said. 'Most importantly, cancer's not the first thing I think about when I go to bed at night.' You can track cancer waiting times in NHS Tayside here.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'child of courage' tragically dies after receiving lung transplant
Zac Gunn tragically passed away on Monday, June 9, surrounded by his family. Scotland's " child of courage" has tragically died just weeks after receiving a lung transplant. Zac Gunn, 7, sadly passed away on the evening of Monday, June 9, surrounded by his loved ones. Zac, from Motherwell, had received a lung transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on May 17. The brave youngster was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, a rare and extremely serious condition that affects the heart and lungs, in 2019. He put up a brave fight with his illness until the end. Announcing the tragedy online, staff at Cathedral Primary School in the Lanarkshire town remembered Zac as the "most beautiful, gracious and courageous boy." A statement from the school reads: "It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that I share the news that Zac Gunn passed away on the evening of Monday 9th June, surrounded by his mum, dad and gran. Zac received a lung transplant in Great Ormond Street Hospital on May 17. "During his short life, Zac lifted the spirits and brought deep joy to more people than most of us could ever hope to touch in our lifetime. Zac was, quite simply, the most beautiful, gracious and courageous boy I ever encountered and he never failed to live his wee life to the absolute full. "Zac leaves a huge hole in each of our hearts and in the Cathedral school community. He will be sorely missed. "We send our sincere condolences to Zac's family, particularly to his mum and dad, big brother and gran, assuring them of our love and prayers at this sad and difficult time. "There wasn't a more devout wee boy than Zac. We ask Jesus to receive him into his loving arms in heaven, where there will be no more tears, pain or suffering." Zac was awarded the Child of Courage prize at the Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards in 2022. At the time, he walked the star-studded red carpet in Edinburgh alongside his beloved mum, Ashley, and dad, Gordon, before he scooped the award. Pictures from the event show Zac beaming from ear to ear as he lifted his well-deserved trophy. After presenting him with his award, Olympic curler Eve Muirhead said: 'To show such bravery and determination despite being so ill is awe-inspiring.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Zac was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension after doctors ruled his blood vessels were too small for his heart to be able to pump blood through his body. He received the transplant last month from another child who would have been seriously unwell. Mum Ashley and dad Gordon previously told how it broke their hearts knowing that another youth would have to have died before their son's life could be saved. Because he was so small, his donor had to be under nine-years-old. As the opt-out system for organ donation does not apply to children under 16, Zac's life depended on a family making a difficult decision while their own child lay dying. Speaking at the time, Ashley said she hopes the parents who found themselves in the horrendous situation would realise that although their child's life cannot be saved, their organs could save the lives of others. Ashley told the Record: 'Zac is a very poorly little boy, although looking at him you would never know. He is in desperate need of a new set of lungs and is living on borrowed time. 'His dad and I were over the moon when he was put on the transplant list back in March especially as the new opt out law had kicked in, which we thought would increase the chances of finding a donor. 'But our joy was short-lived when doctors told us because he is so small Zac can only accept lungs from a baby or child up to the age of nine, which means a child will have to die for his life to be saved. 'Our hearts sank even further when we discovered the opt out law does not apply to anyone under the age of 16 which means parents will have to give their consent as their child lies dying. It's a horrible situation for any family to find themselves in, especially if they didn't see the question coming.' Motherwell Football Club paid tribute to "one of our own... the bravest little boy". A statement reads: "Sadly, we have lost one of our own. The bravest little boy Zac Gunn has lost his battle. His story of courage and bravery touched so many people. We will never, ever forget him. We send our condolences to the full Gunn family at this horrible time. RIP, Zac."
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Scotsman
23-year-old elite athlete denied new brain tumour drug shows depth of NHS's problems
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Perhaps the thing that surprises me most about the state of the NHS in Scotland is how little the problems it faces shock me anymore. Figures published by the Royal College of Radiologists revealed a 25 per cent shortage of radiologists and a 19 per cent shortage of oncologists, with both expected to increase in the coming years. This newspaper reported warnings that this shortage could create a ticking time bomb for cancer patients in Scotland. A worse situation than in any other part of the UK. I should have been rocked to the core by that news, but no. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Instead I found myself sighing in anger, resignation and not a little fear. Anger that those in charge have let it become so bad, and resignation in the knowledge that whatever I try to do will be met with excuses and blame deflection by the Scottish Government. That would, however, be no excuse for me or any other public servant to just sit back and accept that we cannot help. If anything it should, and does, push us on to greater effort. John Swinney and the Scottish Government need to act with greater urgency to fix the NHS's many problems (Picture: Lesley Martin/pool) | Getty Images Drug inhibits tumour's growth I recently met representatives of a medical charity who told me that a breakthrough treatment for a life-limiting illness is not available to patients in Scotland. Those who qualify have to travel to a clinic in Sheffield which is now at full capacity. And it's not just specialists, but access to drugs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A few weeks ago, I spoke in parliament about the research and treatment of brain tumours. I had been contacted by a constituent, a 23-year-old elite athlete, training for the Commonwealth Games and Olympic trials. He was diagnosed with an inoperable, IDH-mutant, low-grade glioma – a rare form of brain tumour that disproportionately affects younger people. A recent breakthrough should have been good news. There is a highly promising drug. So promising, I am told, that the trials were stopped midway through and those on the placebo were given the drug, because it was proving so successful in inhibiting the growth of the tumour. It is already available to eligible patients through a named patient programme, free of charge. But only, in Scotland, in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Tayside areas. Not in NHS Lothian. Even though its health board took part in the original trials, my constituent has been denied it. Apparently, the ongoing costs of regular checks make it too expensive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Angry and frustrated I understand the pressures on public finances, on resources and on the NHS. But that must not mean a limit to our ambition in what we can do for those who are suffering. It certainly should not mean sitting back and accepting that we cannot help when it comes to health, or that we should talk about saving money when we should talk about saving lives. Since then I have spoken to a UK Government minister who assured me that this particular drug could soon be licensed. In England. In Scotland it has proved much more difficult to get a positive response from ministers. I like to think it's because they are as angry and frustrated as the rest of us. But they at least have had the ability, many of them for almost two decades, to do something. Time is running out.
