ARTICLES ON Allergy

Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu who has been on the receiving end of some nasty comments by netizens due to a slight weight gain recently shared with media that she’s suffering from celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. She said during a Chandigarh event “nobody knows about my celiac disease. That I can’t eat wheat flour and many other things.” Here’s all you want to know about celiac disease, its symptoms, causes, and if it could cause weight gain or weight loss in some people. What is Celiac disease “Celiac disease is a condition that makes it hard for your body to break down gluten. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten is found in foods like bread, pasta, pizza, and cereal,” says Dr Honey Savla, Consultant Internal Medicine, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central. According to National Library of Medicine, Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic, immune mediated disorder that occurs in individuals with a genetic predisposition in response to ingestion of dietary gluten. It is a common but markedly under-diagnosed condition. It may lead to serious long-term complications if untreated. “Celiac disease can be termed as a worrisome digestive and immune disorder that tends to damage one’s small intestine and impacts your overall well-being. This disease can get triggered by having foods that contain gluten. It can lead to serious digestive problems and keep your body away from getting all the nutrients it needs. As time passes, the small intestine’s lining will get damaged and there will be a malabsorption of nutrients. You will be shocked to know that there is no permanent cure for celiac disease, but following a strict gluten-free diet can help those with this disease manage the symptoms and promote intestinal healing,” says Dr Roy Patankar. Symptoms of celiac disease Dr Honey Savla says that in people with celiac disease, gluten damages the intestines and the following symptoms can be observed: It can be confirmed by blood test and duodenal biopsy,which will be sent for histopathology. Treatment includes compliance with gluten free diet and replacement of vitamins which arent absorbed. Dr Patankar, however, says the symptoms of celiac disease can vary from person to person. “The common signs that one may notice are diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, glass, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and even constipation. Moreover, some adults will also showcase signs like anaemia, mouth ulcers, headaches, itchy skin, joint pain, and even loss of bone density. Also, some people with this disease will have no symptoms,” says the expert. How to treat celiac disease “In order to treat celiac disease, try to follow a gluten-free diet. An expert will help you to know what you should eat and delete from the diet. Remember to remove foods and drinks that contain gluten,” says Dr Patankar. “Try to eat fruits such as oranges, bananas, apples, berries cruciferous vegetables, including cauliflower, broccoli, greens, spinach, kale, potatoes, corn, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, peas, chickpeas, lentils, gluten-free whole grains, and dairy products. Avoid wheat, white bread, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, salad dressings, marinades, cakes, cookies, pastries, pancakes, waffles, noodles, energy bars, beer, puddings, and instant dessert mixes,” adds the expert. Do people lose or gain weight when suffering from celiac disease? Although celiac disease is associated with losing weight and being thin as it damages the lining of the small intestine, causes malnutrition and malabsorption, the disorder may also lead to weight gain in some casues. As per a study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 15.2% of adults with celiac disease were overweight when they were diagnosed and 6.8% were obese. Together, these outnumbered the 17.3% who were underweight. It shows that it is not rare for a person with celiac disease to be overweight. Source: https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/medical/what-is-celiac-disease-the-condition-that-miss-universe-2021-harnaaz-sandhu-suffers-from/ar-AAVKGAr

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system responds abnormally to gluten. Gluten is present in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have a gluten allergy, eating gluten will cause your immune system to destroy your villi. These are the finger-like parts of your small intestine that are responsible for absorbing nutrients. Without healthy villi, you won’t be able to get the nutrition that you need. This can lead to malnutrition. Gluten Allergy can have serious health consequences, including permanent intestinal damage. Adults and children often experience different symptoms due to celiac disease. Children will most commonly have digestive symptoms. These can include: The failure to absorb nutrients during critical years of growth and development can lead to other health problems. These can include: In Adults may also have digestive symptoms if they have celiac disease. However, adults are more likely to experience symptoms such as: If you think you might suffer from a gluten- or wheat-related condition, then it’s important that you talk to a gastroenterologist before diagnosing yourself or beginning any treatment on your own. An allergist or can run tests and discuss your history with you to help reach a diagnosis. Celiac disease can lead to severe health complications, especially in children. Because there’s a genetic component to celiac disease, it can run in families as well. To diagnose celiac disease or wheat allergy , your doctor will need to conduct a blood or skin prick test. These tests are dependent on the presence of gluten or wheat in your body in order to work. Managing gluten deficiency: The treatment for celiac disease is adhering to a strict gluten-free diet . The treatment for a wheat allergy is to adhere to a strict wheat-free diet.

What is an allergy? Allergy occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are harmless for most people. What happens when you have an allergic reaction? When a person who is allergic to a particular allergen comes into contact with it, an allergic reaction occurs. This begins when the allergen (for example, dust mite) enters the body, triggering an antibody response. The antibodies attach themselves to special cells, called mast cells. When the dust comes into contact with the antibodies, the mast cells respond by releasing certain substances, one of which is called histamine. When the release of histamine is due to an allergen, it can result it in swelling and inflammation and multiple reactions can take place depending upon the allergen. Allergic reactions are determined on the exposure duration of the allergen, stress factor, nutrition level and genetic make-up of the individual. What are the common reactions of the body to an allergen? What are some uncommon allergic reactions? What are the different types of allergy? What some uncommon allergies? Can allergies cause complications? Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that is marked by swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure, and dilated blood vessels. In severe cases, a person will go into shock. If anaphylactic shock isn’t treated immediately, it can be fatal. What is allergy testing? Finding out what you are allergic to is an important first step to effective allergy treatment. When combined with a detailed medical history, allergy testing can identify the specific things that trigger your allergic reactions. Allergy blood tests detect and measure the amount of allergen-specific antibodies. When you come into contact with an allergy trigger, known as an allergen, your body makes antibodies against it. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in your blood is a very specific antibody that is secreted during an allergic reaction. These antibodies appear in human serum and plasma as a result of sensitization to a specific allergen and can be a determiner in measuring the allergy. Allergy blood tests usually screen for most common allergy triggers, including dust, pet dander, trees, grasses, weeds, and molds and even food allergies . To know more about allergy and allergy testing, please contact Wockhardt Hospital.