Celiac disease: The gluten sensitivity Harnaaz Sandhu suffers from
Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu is back home after being crowned Miss Universe 2021. She walked the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week for designers Shivan and Narresh. Her latest pictures show her a bit plumper, and she is being trolled for it. Slamming her critics, she has now opened up about celiac disease, a gluten sensitivity that she suffers from.
Here is what our expert says
Celiac sprue is an autoimmune condition of the small intestines, where the patient is allergic or intolerant to gluten and similar proteins. Due to a chronic inflammation of the intestinal lining, nutrient deficiencies are common in celiac disease. Gold standard of diagnosis is intestinal biopsy. Treatment revolves around a gluten-free diet. Immunomodulators drugs and steroids may be used in refractory cases.
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an immune reaction to the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and some other grain. It is also called celiac sprue, sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy. The exact reason behind this disease isn't known, but it can be genetic. Sometimes, celiac disease can happen after viral infection, surgery, childbirth, or severe emotional stress.
What happens when people with celiac sprue eat gluten?
When someone with celiac disease eats gluten, their body reacts to the protein and damages their villi -- small finger-like projections found on the wall of the small intestine. Villi absorb nutrients like vitamins and minerals from food. With injured villi, the small intestine cannot properly absorb nutrients. One must consult a doctor if they have a digestive disorder for over two weeks.
What are the symptoms?
Eating gluten triggers an immune response in the small intestine of those with the disease. Over time, this reaction can damage the lining of the small intestine preventing it from absorbing nutrients. This often causes diarrhea, weight loss or gain, fatigue, bloating and anaemia. Lack of nutrient absorption can lead to malnourishment, osteoporosis, miscarriage, infertility, neurological diseases, or even certain cancers.
Is there a cure?
A strict gluten-free diet is a way to go for people suffering from the disease. If someone doesn't get better even after a year without gluten, it's refractory or nonresponsive celiac disease. Most people don't know that they have it and only about 20% get the correct diagnosis, researchers say. Since intestinal damage is slow, it can take years to get a correct diagnosis.
