Invisible illnesses presented by Luke Hassan APD
An overview for dietitians
Have you heard of invisible illnesses? Conditions like POTS, MCAS, EDS, and HSD might sound familiar. These—and others—are known as invisible illnesses. They are invisible because they don’t typically have physical or diagnostic markers, yet their impact on an individual’s health and quality of life can be significant.
Luke Hassan, APD outlines how dietitians can recognise and support patients with these complex conditions leading with curiosity, empathy, and capacity-matching support.
Learn about:
- The role of the autonomic nervous system and central sensitisation
- Barriers to diagnosis and the importance of patient-centred communication
- Starting points for nutrition assessment and practical intervention
This presentation covers:
- Key concepts
- What are the Invisible Illnesses?
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
- Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD)
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
- Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
- Autoimmune conditions
- Others including ME/CFS, Pain Sensitisation, Long COVID, Sleep Disorders
- Barriers to living well with an invisible illness
- Making a plan for nutrition intervention
- Practical elements to assisting with nutrition
Luke Hassan was the first dietitian at Active Health Clinic in Melbourne, where their mission is to 'Make Invisible Illness Visible'. Luke has a special interest in lesser-known chronic conditions such as ME/CFS, Dysautonomia's including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Connective Tissue Disorders like Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, PASC / Long Covid, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. He is incredibly passionate about the difference that individualised nutrition advice can have in these conditions, and it is his personal mission to make them as well-known, well-researched and well-treated as our more common chronic health conditions.
To register for the presentation and associated documents including the assessment quiz click here