Lactose Intolerance |
OverviewLactose intolerance is a condition that affects people who cannot properly digest a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Over 50 million North Americans are lactose intolerant. The condition tends to be more common in men than women and happens more frequently in adults than children. Certain racial groups including Asians people of African descent Hispanics people of Mediterranean descent and First Nations people are more likely to be lactose intolerant. CausesIn order for your body to use lactose as an energy source it has to turn it into simpler sugars. But if you're lactose intolerant your small intestine has a hard time producing enough of the enzymes which are necessary to breakdown the lactose. Because the lactose can't be digested properly it stays in your intestines where it can make you feel bloated give you stomach cramps gas and diarrhea. Being lactose intolerant doesn't mean you are allergic to milk. When you have an allergy your immune system has an adverse reaction to the milk protein. Your lips and mouth itch and you feel sick to your stomach. You might also have diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Lactose intolerance can develop at different times in your life often later in life and for different reasons: Adult lactose intolerance: This is the most common type of lactose intolerance. It's usually passed to you from one or both of your parents. You usually won't start to develop symptoms until your teen or adult years. In some rare cases however symptoms can start as young as five. Acquired lactose intolerance: This type of lactose intolerance develops when your small intestine stops producing lactase as a result of an illness or medical condition. You can also develop it after surgery if a large part of your small intestine has been removed. Symptoms can start at any age and you'll usually suffer from it until your small intestine heals. But if you've developed it due to an illness such as cystic fibrosis you'll probably have it for life. Lactose intolerance at birth: This is also known as congenital lactose intolerance. This is extremely rare but when it does occur it develops shortly after birth and will last your entire lifetime. SymptomsSymptoms can range from mild to severe and start as soon as 30 minutes or as much as 2 hours after eating food containing dairy. Some common symptoms include:
There are intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome that can cause symptoms similar to those of lactose intolerance. If you use laxatives too often or have problems digesting foods containing fructose or sorbitol you may also experience symptoms similar to lactose intolerance. For a proper diagnosis tell your doctor about your symptoms and when they occur. TreatmentMost people are diagnosed simply by their history. When they eat or drink lactose they are intolerant. There are three tests your doctor can perform to determine whether you are lactose intolerant: Hydrogen breath test: It is possible to accurately test for lactose intolerance by measuring hydrogen levels in your intestines. When lactose isn't digested properly it sits in your small intestine and then mixes with bacteria in your large intestine which creates hydrogen gas. People who are lactose intolerant have higher levels of hydrogen in their breath than those who don't have this condition. Lactose intolerance test: This test measures the amount of glucose in your blood and determines how well you're digesting lactose. Glucose levels in your blood stream rise when the lactase in your small intestine breaks down lactose. But if you are lactose intolerant your glucose levels will not rise which indicates your body isn't breaking down lactose as it should. Stool acidity test: When undigested lactose builds up in your large intestine you create acid. When you have a bowel movement your doctor can measure the amount of acid in your stool. If acid is found you're probably not digesting lactose normally. There is no cure for lactose intolerance so if your doctor determines that you have this condition you may have no choice but to reduce or avoid foods containing dairy. If this is the case be sure to read the labels on everything before you eat it. There may be hidden lactose present in common foods such as powdered meal-replacement drinks salad dressing candies snacks processed breakfast cereals and pancake mix. If you choose to eat or drink milk and milk products do so only with solid foods. It may also help to:
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