Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

Lactose intolerance, also called lactase deficiency, prevents you from being able to fully digest lactose (milk sugar) in dairy products. While lactose intolerance is not dangerous or life-threatening, it can make you feel very uncomfortable and sick. It is common in adults, although it tends to occur in people from South America, Africa, and Asia as opposed to those of European descent. It can be challenging for people who are lactose-intolerant to get enough calcium for healthy bones while at the same time avoiding discomfort. Some people can eat some lactose products without being sick, although others need to have strict dairy-free diets to avoid any symptoms.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lactose intolerance can be mild or severe, depending on the severity of your condition. They usually begin about 30 minutes after you drink or eat dairy products. Commons symptoms include nausea, diarrhea or loose stool, gas, rumbling sounds in the lower belly, cramps or pain in the abdominal area, and bloating. These symptoms are common with many different diseases which sometimes causes people to think they are lactose-intolerant. Just because you felt nausea after you drank a glass of milk one time doesn’t mean you are lactose intolerant. If you feel sick every time after you drink milk or eat a dairy product, however, you most likely have lactose intolerance. Symptoms usually start in the late teen or early adult years, and continue for life. In rare cases, newborns are born lactose-intolerant. Symptoms to look for include weight gain, weakness, dehydration, vomiting, diaper rash, and foamy diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is not the same thing as a food allergy, and it is important to differentiate between the two. A dairy or milk allergy tends to cause much more sever symptoms, and can be life-threatening. If you think you may have symptoms caused by lactose intolerance but are unsure, consult your doctor. They will be able to determine what the cause of the symptoms are, and also help you come up with a diet to avoid dairy if you are indeed lactose intolerant. There are two different tests you can take – the hydrogen breath test or the lactose tolerance test. The hydrogen breath test is the most accurate test, as you will drink a liquid that contains lactose and then breathe into a machine over a couple of hours. If the hydrogen levels in your breath are high, you are likely lactose intolerant.

Treatment

It can be frustrating to find out that you are lactose intolerant because you will have to change your diet for the rest of your life. Luckily, most people with lactose intolerance can eat or drink some dairy products and still feel perfectly fine. There are different ways you can live with lactose intolerance. Ideally, you should limit the amount of milk and dairy products in your diet. If you do eat dairy products or drink milk, try to do it with other food, like cereal. You can also find products that have reduced lactose or eat other items instead of milk products, such as soy cheese or soy milk.