Symptoms of lactose intolerance can range from mild to severe, depending on the intensity of lack of lactase in your intestines. Since lactose intolerance produces a lot of gas in the intestinal region, some of the symptoms resemble other common gastrointestinal digestive problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) etc. This article will analyze the most common truths about lactose intolerance and its symptoms.
Truths about symptoms of lactose intolerance: We all know that lactose intolerance is caused by lack of lactase in the body. But not many know that they suffer from this condition. Many tend to think of it as a digestive ailment and take medications for it. But lactose intolerance is purely caused by deficiency of lactase and does not result in permanent stomach problems.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours of intake of milk or milk-related products. Some of the symptoms include:
1. Bloating of stomach: Happens with many with lactose intolerance. There is an unease about the whole abdominal area and you cannot normal, in lively or happy mood.
2. Lower belly pain: Ironically, these symptoms occur in case of other diseases like IBS and IBD, but are unique to lactose intolerance – the symptoms do not occur every time, but only when milk or milk related stuff is consumed.
3. Lactose intolerance in babies: This is rare, but quite known to many. You can check your baby for the symptoms and then, go to the pediatrician. When these children grow up, they can become completely lactose intolerant. Symptoms in babies inlcude – severe foamy diarrhea (dark in color), diaper rashes, vomiting, dehydration and a lot more. Babies suffering from lactose intolerance experience weight loss, weakness, irritability or pain in the baby.
4. Other symptoms: Cramps in the belly, rumbling sounds in abdominal region, gas formation, vomiting and loose, foamy stools or diarrhea. Though this is more common in old age, this does not come to everyone all the times.
5. Lactose intolerance is not milk allergy: Never ever come to a conclusion that you or your baby have milk allergy before screening them for lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is different from milk allergy in that, in the latter, the body opposes the proteins in milk, while in the former, it is a sign of depleting resources of lactose. Also, don’t think that you have lactose intolerance if you have the above symptoms once or twice in a week after drinking water. You could be lactose intolerant only if you have the same problems every time to take milk related products. Also, clarify with your physician on whether the symptoms indicate only lactose intolerance and not other gastrointestinal problems.
