What is Lactose Intolerance?

Many people are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is when there is the inability to be able to digest lactose properly. Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in milk and other dairy products. Basically there is an enzyme in your body called lactase. This is formed by the small intestine lining, and being lactose intolerant means that you have a shortage of lactase in your body. So your body cannot handle the sugars that are found in milk products. There are many things to know about having lactose intolerance.

Causes

Some people are just born being lactose intolerant. It is just hereditary. Other people have lactose intolerance because of an intestinal disease like irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease. Some babies get it, but it is usually only temporary. This is called congenital lactose intolerance. The infants just cannot handle their mother's breast milk. There is lactose free formula that can help in these situations.

Symptoms

Usually a person who is lactose intolerant will begin to feel the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance within two hours of having dairy products. One of the first things you will probably notice is that your stomach feels bloated and that you may have gas. Your tummy may even make gurgling noises. You will probably have diarrhea and have abdominal cramps when having lactose intolerance symptoms. Sometimes nausea may even occur.

Diagnosis

If you think that you maybe lactose intolerant, do see your doctor. You discuss with your doctor the symptoms that you are having. If your stomach seems to get upset every time you have milk products then you may have lactose intolerance. There is a lactose intolerance test that you can take to see if you really are lactose intolerant. Ask your doctor if you can have that test so you can be 100 percent sure you have lactose intolerance or not.

Treatment Being lactose intolerant is not a health risk to really worry about. Just realize that if you have lactose intolerance that you may want to ease up on milk and dairy products. Try to not have milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, and cream. There are lactose tablets and drops that you can take to help break down lactose in your meals if you really cannot keep away from dairy products all of the time. Talk to your doctor about what is the best treatment for you.

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lactose-intolerance/DS00530