One of the most common ways to diagnose lactose intolerance is Hydrogen Breath Test. A test that measures the amount of Hydrogen present in your breath, a doctor normally suggests this if he wants to confirm that your condition is lactose intolerance and not milk allergy. Hydrogen Breath test is helpful in understanding the complexity of your condition and response to lactose and also, in finding out the level of your intolerance.
Lactose Intolerance and Hydrogen Breath Test: Lactose intolerance is caused by shortage of the lactase enzyme in the small intestine. Lack of this enzyme can result in a lot of undigested lactose in the bowels. The undigested lactose passes from the small intestine into the colon. In the colon, it is normally fermented by bacteria, yielding lactic acid. The lactic acid produces a lot of hydrogen in the breath and the Hydrogen Breath Test is helpful in finding the lactose tolerance level in the body. It is the lactic acid in the intestine which produces symptoms like bloating, cramps, pain and nausea. By testing the amount of hydrogen in the breath, you can get to know the amount of lactic acid and gas in the intestine.
Preparation for Hydrogen Breath Test: A Hydrogen Breath Test lasts for 2 hours and involves a lot of dietary conditions. The test, as such, involves just this: You will be asked to drink a beverage rich in lactose. The beverage may cause you problems like nausea, cramps, pain, bloating and diarrhea. Fifteen minutes after intake of the beverage, you will be asked to blow out air into balloon-like bags. You will be asked to do this every 15 minutes for about 2 hours. The amount of hydrogen present in the air blown out will determine how much of undigested lactose is in your body. Increased levels of hydrogen can mean high levels of lactose intolerance, whereas decreased levels can indicate low resistance to lactose. The air contains hydrogen as a result of lactose fermentation (by bacteria present in the colon).
Before the test, you need to make preparations that will enable you to take the test easily, without any complications:
1. Don’t eat 8 hours before the test.
2. Don’t drink anything at least 8 hours before the test.
3. If you need to take medicine, take it with small amount of water.
4. Don’t take medications unless recommended by the doctor
5. Your regular medicines have to be approved by the GP who is conducting the test
6. Don’t take antibiotics for about 2 to 4 weeks before the test
7. Don’t discontinue or miss out on medicines recommended by the doctor
8. If you have had a colonoscopy recently, inform the doctor about it
9. If you are pregnant, have lung or heart ailment or disorder, inform your doctor before the test
10. Don’t chew gum on the day of the test.
There are several preparations to be made before the test. The above ones are just some of the few.
