NHS warn ‘tingling’ sensation in hands and feet could be common condition

We've all done it. Many of us have ended up with a tingling sensation in our hands and feet now and then - such as when we've been in one position for a while without moving, or leaning on one part of our body.

However if you experience this frequently, it could signal a common condition, and you will want to book an appointment with your GP if you think you have it. According to the NHS, if you experience this, it could mean that you have coeliac disease.

This is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. As a result, it damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients.

In addition to a tingling sensation, which the health service say can also cause numbness in your hands and feet, coeliac disease can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.

What is gluten found in?

Coeliac disease is caused by an adverse reaction to gluten, which is a dietary protein found in 3 types of cereal:

• wheat

• barley

• rye

Gluten is found in some beers and any food that contains those cereals, including:

• pasta

• cakes

• breakfast cereals

• most types of bread

• certain types of sauces

• some ready meals

What causes coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system, which usually guards against infection, wrongly targets healthy tissue. With this condition, the immune system perceives substances present in gluten as a threat and attacks them.

This results in damage to the small intestine's surface, impairing nutrient absorption from food. The exact cause of this immune response is not fully understood, but it seems to involve a mix of genetic factors and environmental triggers.

If I don't get it treated, are there any complications of coeliac disease?

Complications from coeliac disease generally arise in individuals who persist in consuming gluten or in those who remain undiagnosed, often occurring in cases with milder symptoms.

Potential long-term complications include:

• weakening of the bones (osteoporosis)

• iron deficiency anaemia

• vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia

Less common, but more serious complications, include developing some types of cancers - such as bowel cancer. It can also cause problems affecting pregnancy, such as your baby having a low birth weight. This is why it is important to see your GP if you suspect you have this condition.

What are the signs and symptoms of coeliac disease

Diarrhoea is a frequent symptom of coeliac disease, resulting from the small intestine's inability to absorb nutrients properly, a condition known as malabsorption. This malabsorption can cause stools to contain unusually high levels of fat, known as steatorrhoea, leading to stools that are foul-smelling, greasy, and frothy, and may be challenging to flush away.

Other common gut-related symptoms include:

• abdominal pain (stomach ache)

• bloating and flatulence (farting)

• indigestion

• constipation

• vomiting

And more general symptoms may include:

• fatigue (extreme tiredness), which may be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia or vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia

• unexpected weight loss

• an itchy rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)

• difficulty getting pregnant (infertility)

• tingling and numbness in your hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)

• problems with co-ordination, balance and speech (ataxia)

You can find out more on Coeliac UK here.