Lactose intolerance is when you have difficulty digesting milk products. Specifically, you have difficulty digesting lactose which is a sugar found in milk products. When milk products get to your small intestine a chemical called lactase releases to help digest lactose, but not everyone’s small intestine releases enough of this chemical. The severity of lactose intolerance can vary from person to person. Around 75% of the world’s population are suspected to be lactose intolerant. You’re more likely to experience lactose intolerance if you’re Asian, African, Native American, or Hispanic descent. Older people of all race are susceptible to lactose intolerance as well. People with certain digestive problems like celiac disease may develop lactose as well.
While not life threatening, it can cause discomfort and keep you from getting enough calcium in your diet. The following list of symptoms are provided to give you some insight on how lactose intolerance may affect you. Symptoms normally develop around 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting milk products. If you’re worried you might be lactose intolerant, it’s important to set up an appointment with your physician. Your physician can test if you’re lactose intolerant with a hydrogen breath test or with a blood sample. They can also help you make sure your diet contains food that will give you enough calcium in the event that you need to reduce milk products in your diet.
1. Abdomen Pain
The abdomen is located between the ribs and pelvis. Abdomen pain from lactose intolerance often happens in the middle to lower abdomen, around the belly button to the pelvis. The type of pain can vary from person to person. It can feel sharp, stabbing, dull, or cramp-like. It can give the impression of pressure like someone pushing on your abdomen or the feeling of needing to use the restroom. Abdominal pain in relation to lactose intolerance is often caused by the buildup of gases in the small intestine when the body fails to break down the lactose for digestion. Abdominal pain can be constant or come and go in waves.
The pain may be mild enough to just cause discomfort, but you may find yourself unable to find a comfortable position to sit or lie in. If the pain is related to lactose intolerance, you may find that the pain is somewhat alleviated when passing gas, belching, or having a bowel movement. In extreme cases, abdomen pain can cause vomiting. Lactose intolerance isn’t the only ailment to cause abdominal pain. If you have severe or persistent abdominal pain, you should seek medical attention immediately as it could be a sign of something serious.
2. Belching
Belching, also known as burping, is one way our body releases gases from the digestive tract. When we belch, the body is pushing gases from the stomach out through the mouth. Lactose intolerance can cause excessive belching in some people. It’s normal to experience is every now and again. In fact, most people belch 3 to 4 times after eating a large meal. In most cases it passes quickly and won’t be excessive. By itself, belching shouldn’t cause you any alarm, but if you’re experiencing it along with the other symptoms in this article, lactose intolerance might be the culprit.
3. Bloating
Bloating is also known as abdominal swelling. This happens when an abnormal amount of gas builds up in your digestive tract. When this happens, you may feel overly full, and your abdomen can feel tight. This can cause abdominal pain, and you may notice that your stomach is growling more when you’re bloated. Bloating isn’t always a sign of something negative. Many people experience occasional bloating throughout their life. It can happen after eating foods that are high in fiber like beans or fruits. If you find yourself abnormally bloated after eating or drinking milk products though, it may be a sign of lactose intolerance.
4. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is described as having loose or watery stool, also known as poop. It can range from passing mushy stool that doesn’t retain shape easily to passing mostly liquid. Everyone gets diarrhea now and then, but if you often experience it after eating or drinking milk products, then lactose intolerance might be to blame. When the partially or undigested lactose passes from your small intestine to the colon, it attracts water from other areas of the body. This water continues through the digestive process and mixes with the food and drink your consumed ultimately leaving the body in the form of diarrhea.
5. Indigestion
Indigestion is a general term for stomach pain. This can vary between people. It can feel like an uncomfortable fullness during or after eating a meal. It can cause a burning sensation below the ribs. It can manifest as a general ache in the stomach area. It can appear as bloating in the upper abdomen area under the rib cage. Indigestion is one of many signs of an underlying problem like lactose intolerance. Everyone gets indigestion now and then, but it can appear as a symptom for other ailments as well. If you often experience indigestion, you should contact your doctor.
6. Stomach Cramps
Stomach cramps are often a tight pain in the colon similar to a muscle cramp. It can feel like your colon is tensing up and squeezing. Stomach cramps can feel as if the colon is spasming, and the pain can come and go in severity. If the stomach cramps are brought on due to lactose intolerance, then you will most likely experience gas and diarrhea with this symptom. The pain will also change locations as the lactose moves through the digestive tract. The stomach cramps should subside once you pass the lactose through your stool. Passing gas may temporarily relieve this symptom as it can relieve some of the pressure in the colon.
7. Irritable
This symptom may seem obvious if you’re experiencing pain, but lactose intolerance can make you irritable. It’s not just a side effect from the pain though. Many people who are lactose intolerant react negatively to a protein in milk called casein. Casein can cause a slew of behavioral issues including irritability in people that are lactose intolerant. Irritability is one of the most common signs of lactose intolerance in children. If you or your children become irritable after eating or drinking milk products, it may be time to set up an appointment with your doctor to check for lactose intolerance.
