{"id":519,"date":"2017-09-18T05:19:02","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T05:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=519"},"modified":"2021-07-12T13:15:58","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T13:15:58","slug":"16-lactose-intolerance-symptoms-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/16-lactose-intolerance-symptoms-know\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Lactose Intolerance Symptoms You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lactose intolerance is an allergy to milk, or more accurately an intolerance. It is caused by a lack of lactase in the individual. Lactase is an enzyme that has the job of breaking down lactose and milk in dairy products.<\/p>\n

This then means that the lactose isn\u2019t digested and absorbed into the body the way it should be. Instead, it simply passes through the system and then builds up inside the colon \u2013 the large intestine. From there, lactose can then become fermented. In other words, it begins to attract bacteria, which produce gas as they feed off of the lactose. The result is that the individual can start to feel bloated, gaseous, and sick. In some cases, this might lead then to vomiting but in most cases, the symptoms are considerably less noticeable.<\/p>\n

Lactose itself is a sugar that is found in a great many different foods. These include milk but also cream, soft cheese, chocolate, ice cream, and more. This is not a condition that many people want to admit to, as it means saying goodbye to a love of many foods. But unfortunately, with the symptoms being rather uncomfortable, this is often unavoidable.<\/p>\n

Here are some of those most common symptoms to help you identify the problem and do what must be done\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Bloating<\/h3>\n

As mentioned, lactose intolerance<\/a> occurs because it causes lactose to build up in the intestines rather than being broken down. This in turn causes the patient to feel a sense of being bloated as gas is produced by the fermenting milk.<\/p>\n

Remember the last time you discovered old, forgotten milk in your fridge? You might have noticed that it had a look a bit like yogurt and it probably didn\u2019t smell so good! Well, unpleasant as it may be to think about, that is precisely what is inside you right now if you have lactose intolerance and you consumed milk this morning. The bloating suddenly makes sense!<\/p>\n

2. Gas<\/h3>\n

This bloating<\/a> is often accompanied by wind. What happens here is that the gas released by the fermenting milk has to go somewhere and where else than out! This can be quite embarrassing as well as uncomfortable, causing stomach pain until the gas is released. Of course, there are many other causes of gas however, so this symptom on its own is not enough to definitely point to lactose intolerance!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Diarrhea<\/h3>\n

This is a particularly unpleasant effect of lactose intolerance. In short, you can find that your stool becomes very watery and perhaps loose. This can be a dangerous combination when you have gas as well, as you may lack confidence that you aren\u2019t going to pass more than just wind! Again, this is the body rejecting the unwanted by-products caused by unbroken-down lactose. The result is a watery and highly unpleasant urgency and needs to go to the toilet.<\/p>\n

Eating more fiber<\/a> can help to alleviate these symptoms to some degree by providing bulk and sustenance to the stool.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Nausea<\/h3>\n

As you might expect, all of these unpleasant symptoms can also add up to cause nausea<\/a>. This is a result of the body trying to reject the unwanted substance. Nausea the vast majority of the time is the result of the body thinking that something is wrong and therefore trying to purge itself.<\/p>\n

When you have all the symptoms described above such as nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain, this of course rather suggests to the body that something is wrong. The result is that you can begin to bring up the contents of your stomach. This may remove some of the lactose before it makes it as far as the bowels but it certainly isn\u2019t a pleasant experience at the time.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Indigestion<\/h3>\n

Indigestion<\/a> is the result of an inability to properly digest the food, which can cause some of that food to travel back up through the oesophageal sphincter along with stomach acids. This causes reflux and heartburn and can be very painful and unpleasant.<\/p>\n

This can happen whenever any kind of food is not properly digested and that in turn might mean that you experience these symptoms when struggling with lactose intolerance.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Stomach Grumbling<\/h3>\n

Often, we associate our stomach rumbling with being hungry. However, this can actually be the result of numerous different things. In this case, your stomach<\/a> grumbling might be the result of gas caused by fermenting milk. As the milk curdles and ferments and bacteria gathers, gas is created. This then attempts to escape through the stomach, causing movement and shifting as the air passes around foods.<\/p>\n

If your stomach seems generally unsettled, then this might be a symptom of lactose intolerance, or potentially another form of intolerance (such as gluten).<\/p>\n

7. Foamy Stool<\/h3>\n

As mentioned, diarrhea<\/a> is a symptom of lactose intolerance and causes running and frequent stool. However, this can also alter the consistency of the stool. In this case, it might cause your bowel movements to be \u2018foamy\u2019 inconsistency as a result of the by-products of the fermenting lactose.
\nAgain, this can have a number of different causes and in some cases, it might even be the result of perfectly normal stool just with unusual consistency.<\/p>\n

Either way, if you notice foaminess in your stool alongside these other symptoms, then lactose intolerance is a definite possibility.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Stomach Pain<\/h3>\n

All of this can be quite painful. The result of the noxious gas moving through the stomach and the bowels, nausea, vomiting and all the other symptoms can be that you end up with cramping pain in the stomach and the lower belly.<\/p>\n

Again, there are many reasons this can happen \u2013 so lookout for signs of lactose intolerance on top of this general symptom of discomfort<\/a> and illness.<\/p>\n

9. Watery Stool<\/h3>\n

So, your stool is foamy, it is more regular and it can also be watery. Once again, a picture that old carton of milk. You\u2019ll find that as well as turning green and smelly, it also has a fair amount of fluid<\/a> around the congealed milk. It\u2019s not a nice thought but this is what\u2019s in your system and that means that your stool is also more likely to be somewhat runny. It might even be a little discolored.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Low Energy<\/h3>\n

While these symptoms all sound quite noticeable, often lactose intolerance will go unnoticed for a fair amount of time before attention is called to it. Part of the reason for this is that the severity of lactose intolerance can vary greatly from person to person and this can result in quite different symptoms.<\/p>\n

So whereas some people will have very noticeable cramping, indigestion, vomiting<\/a>, and other pronounced side effects, others might just feel a little \u2018sub-par\u2019. As a result, they might just have slightly lower energy and lack the \u2018get-up and go\u2019 that they should have. Just think of this as your system not quite functioning optimally.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Timing<\/h3>\n

So, if the only symptom is mild tiredness and maybe some gas<\/a> \u2013 both of which could easily have been caused by a range of other things \u2013 how can you possibly identify and diagnose a case of lactose intolerance? How do you rule out other causes?<\/p>\n

The answer is that you look at the timing. Consider what you eat and how this correlates with how you feel.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been lacking that little bit of get-up and go, then you should try altering your diet to remove the lactose and then see if you feel better. Some people can get away with just small amounts of lactose \u2013 consuming the odd cup of tea \u2013 whereas other people need to entirely rule it out of their diet.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. Frequent Colds<\/h3>\n

Some of the symptoms of lactose intolerance are somewhat indirect, which can make it a little tricky to identify them as such.<\/p>\n

For instance, you might find that you develop frequent colds. These aren\u2019t caused directly by the lactose or the lack of lactase (there\u2019s a pun in there somewhere) but instead are simply the result of your body being tired and your energy<\/a> budget being spent somewhere other than on your immune system.<\/p>\n

13. Skin Rash<\/h3>\n

Another occasional symptom is rash<\/a>. This is the result of the body reacting once again to unusual goings-on inside the bowels and the stomach. In short, it has detected that something not-quite-right is going on and so it is trying to drive out a possible infection. And remember: some of these symptoms are likely the result of bacteria.<\/p>\n

Thus, the skin is reacting as though you were ill or had an allergy.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Age<\/h3>\n

The age at which you exhibit these symptoms can also make it more or less likely that lactose intolerance is indeed responsible. That\u2019s because the most common form of lactose intolerance is actually acquired lactose intolerance. This is caused by a reduction in activity in the small intestine lining, which can occur as children grow into adults<\/a>. It is very uncommon to see this development before the age of 5 and it is also less common to see it occur when the child is already in adulthood.<\/p>\n

Thus, if the symptoms arise while the child is aged 5-10, then lactose intolerance is more likely. Consider that most babies will drink milk just fine, but that the average lactose intake for adults accounts for less than 10% of their total carbohydrate intake.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. Ethnicity<\/h3>\n

Certain ethnicities are actually more likely to be lactose intolerant than others. It is thought that somewhere close to 100% of Asians may have some degree of lactose intolerance. The same is true for Native Americans. African Americans have a 60-80% likelihood, while Latinos are around 50-80% likely.<\/p>\n

This means that in fact, the vast majority of the population of Earth is lactose intolerant! The only reason that you may not encounter it more frequently, is that it is relatively infrequent for Caucasians.<\/p>\n

There is also some genetic link, so if you have a family history of lactose intolerance<\/a>, then it is worth considering.<\/p>\n

None of these things mean you are definitely lactose intolerant, or that the condition is severe. However, these situations make it more likely that this is what is causing the problem. If you exhibit the symptoms discussed here and these facts about you are true, then try limiting your intake and see if that helps.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. Other Conditions<\/h3>\n

Finally, keep in mind that lactose intolerance can also be caused by other conditions. These include Celiac disease<\/a>. This condition affects the villi on the small intestine where gluten is ingested. This can cause temporary lactose intolerance by preventing the regular absorption of lactose.<\/p>\n

Likewise, lactose intolerance can be caused by or lead to irritable bowel syndrome, or damage to the intestinal tract.<\/p>\n\r\n

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