Rebecca Adlington diagnosed with coeliac disease, highlights symptoms

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington recently revealed her diagnosis of coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition affecting approximately one in 100 people in the UK. This condition causes the immune system to attack the gut upon gluten consumption, leading to severe nutritional deficiencies and increased risks of serious health complications, including osteoporosis and certain cancers. Adlington is advocating for greater access to gluten-free prescriptions, which many patients rely on due to the high costs associated with a gluten-free diet. Symptoms of coeliac disease can often be vague and misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, resulting in an average diagnosis delay of 13 years. Awareness is critical, as many individuals remain unaware they have the condition, and symptoms can be subtle or even non-existent in some cases. Experts emphasize the importance of recognizing both common and lesser-known symptoms to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment.