Lactose Intolerance- The Causes & Treatments

Lactose intolerance is the most common digestive disorder that affects a lot of people worldwide. The symptoms may vary from person to person, but it will include bloating, abdominal cramps and diarrhea for almost every patient directly after the consumption of dairy products like milk, yogurt etc. The condition of this digestive disorder is not harmful, but it can be uncomfortable and irritating.

As it is an inability to digest lactose, you can manage it by knowing how much milk or milk products you need to drink or eat. A gastroenterologist can help you in this regard.

Types of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a phenomena where the digestive system of a human being is intolerant to lactose which is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy foods. It is classified by two variants.

• Primary lactose intolerance is most common in Asian, Africans and Americans. Most people are born with enough lactase enzyme which breaks down the lactose sugar. The quantity of lactase a person makes may reduce over time. Symptoms of this type of Lactose intolerance may typically become more predominant with age. This is because as people age, they eat more varied diet and rely less on milk.

• Secondary lactose intolerance is considered as a rare one and caused by the illness or injury. Stomach related troubles like inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and a surgery, or an injury to your intestine can also be the reasons behind lactose intolerance. It is usually painful but if the underlying disorder is treated carefully, it is short-lived.

Symptoms & Causes of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance can show an ample of symptoms. If you have this digestive disease, you may have the symptoms within a few hours of taking diary or other foods that contain lactose. Your symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea

• Bloating

• Gas

• Nausea

• Abdomen cramps

• Vomiting

These symptoms depend on how much lactose you intake.

Lactose intolerance is caused by lactose malabsorption, a disorder where your small intestine leads to low levels of lactase and cannot digest the entire lactose you eat. In some of the cases, your genes are the reason for lactose intolerance.

Treatment for Lactose Intolerance

The most shared treatment for lactose intolerance is by modifying your diet to limit or circumvent drinks and foods that contain lactose, such as milk and milk products and replace with Soya based Milk and it’s by product. Some people may only require limiting the quantity of lactose, while others may need to cut out lactose completely.

To get a permanent relief from your discomfort, you can consult with a gastroenterologist to control the symptoms of lactose and make sure you get enough nutrients. You can contact with Digestive Disease Specialist based in Edmond, Oklahoma to learn about the treatment process from our experts.

**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.