The Coeliac Society of Ireland has warned that an estimated 16,000 men in Ireland have undiagnosed coeliac disease and are ignoring symptoms that could have a major impact on their lives.
The Society’s chief executive called on men to see their GP immediately if they have any of the symptoms of coeliac disease. These include abdominal pain, recurring mouth-ulcers, weight-loss, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue, to name but a few - and warned that left undiagnosed and untreated, coeliac disease can cause infertility, stunted growth, anaemia, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression and other health problems.
“Coeliac disease in Ireland is diagnosed twice as frequently in females as it is in males. Research shows there is greater prevalence among women, but even allowing for this, diagnosis among men lags behind that of women and a significant reason for low diagnosis of coeliac disease in men is the fact that they are less likely to go to the doctor or have regular health check-ups.
“Men often don’t seek medical care for what they consider to be small health issues, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation – even if they are persistent. This makes diagnosis of coeliac disease far less likely and means that many men are risking their health and, in some acute cases, their lives unnecessarily,” Gill Brennan, CEO of the Coeliac Society of Ireland, said.
For more information on symptoms and diagnosis, please visit www.coeliac.ie
