Lactose Intolerance – Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Relief

Lactose intolerance is a digestive condition where the body can’t digest lactose properly. People with lactose intolerance also can’t digest dairy products and foods with sugar. This particular condition happens when the small intestine produces insufficient amounts enzyme called lactase, breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose.  

Both lactose intolerance and dairy allergy can cause digestive distress. These conditions are fundamentally different. A dairy allergy is an immune system response to the proteins, such as whey or casein, in milk. 

The symptoms of dairy allergy can be severe and life-threatening. The common symptoms include swelling, hives, anaphylaxis, etc. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is a digestive issue that happens due to enzyme deficiency. Its usual symptoms are bloating, gas, and diarrhoea. 

Lactose intolerance may cause sudden onset cases in adults, often presenting after pregnancy, illness, or hormonal changes.

Lactose intolerance is very common in adults nowadays. It happens due to a natural decline in the body’s production of the lactase enzyme after childhood. This particular condition is known as primary lactose deficiency. This is a genetic process. Lactose intolerance can also be triggered by illness or injuries that can damage the small intestine, which leads to a sudden onset of symptoms. 

There are a few signs that you must watch for after consuming milk products. Usually, the common symptoms of lactose intolerance appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming foods that contain dairy products, especially if they lack enough lactase . The symptoms include;

Stomach cramps: You will feel stomach cramps due to the movement of the undigested lactose from milk products .

Bloating and gas: The undigested lactose ferments in the colon and produces gas. It causes bloating in your gut. 

Nausea and vomiting: These symptoms are not very common but can appear sometimes.

Diarrhea: The undigested lactose draws water into the colon, which leads to diarrhoea. 

You can get a good idea from at-home methods if you are lactose intolerant by observing which foods cause symptoms . Such methods, which can include lactose intolerance include at-home tests, are ones that you can take to determine lactose malabsorption.

It is the easiest method to check for lactose intolerance that you can take as a first step .

You need to check for one or two weeks. Completely stop the consumption of all dairy products from your diet, including what you eat or drink that contains lactose .

After pausing dairy consumption, reintroduce yourself to a small amount of dairy, and see if your symptoms appear again. 

You must keep a detailed food dairy for one or two weeks. Note down everything that you eat and drink, and also any changes in your blood sugar levels . Also, mention any symptoms that you will experience a nd the particular time they occur. Food diary tracking helps you identify a direct link between dairy consumption and your symptoms.

If the at-home tests suggest you have an issue or the symptoms are severe, you must consult a doctor. A healthcare provider can confirm the diagnosis and suggest proper treatment further. 

A doctor can use a few reliable medical tests to confirm a diagnosis.

Doctors usually suggest a few reliable medical tests to confirm the diagnosis, including a breath test . Such lactose intolerance tests are;

Lactose Tolerance Test: In this test, after consuming a lactose-rich drink, your blood sugar levels are measured. If your sugar levels don’t rise, it shows that your body didn’t break down the lactose into glucose. It indicates lactose intolerance. 

Hydrogen Breath Test: It is the most common test for lactose intolerance. For this test, you need to drink a liquid containing lactose. If you are intolerant, the undigested lactose will produce huge amount of hydrogen gas in your gut. This gas is absorbed into your bloodstream and gets exhaled. In this test, the doctor will measure the level of hydrogen in your breath at regular intervals. 

Stool Acidity Test: This test is mainly recommended for babies. The undigested lactose in the stool creates a more acidic environment. This test measures the acidity of the baby’s stool to diagnose lactose intolerance. 

A lactose intolerance test can also be done at home. However, there are over-the-counter lactose intolerance test kits. Still, we recommend medical tests, instead of these test kits, for more accuracy. 

The best way is to go for the doctor-prescribed medical test procedure. If you are doing an at-home test, you should start with a small amount of dairy. You must be prepared to manage any discomfort. Make sure not to consume a huge amount of dairy products at once to prevent severe discomfort. 

Lactose intolerance symptoms are the same for everyone, regardless of gender. After consuming dairy products, undigested lactose travels to the large intestine, where it ferments and leads to bloating, gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. 

When the symptoms don't differ, females can experience the onset of severe lactose intolerance during periods or significant hormonal changes. 

• Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect gut motility and sensitivity. For some females, it can trigger a latent lactase deficiency that leads to new symptoms of lactose intolerance. However, it's a temporary condition that improves after childbirth. 

• Menopause: Estrogen levels drop during perimenopause ,and menopause affects the digestive system and overall gut health. It can increase sensitivity to certain foods like dairy. This causes the sudden onset of lactose intolerance in some women. 

The duration of lactose intolerance symptoms depends on the amount of consumed lactose and the level of the individual’s lactase deficiency. Usually, the symptoms start within 30 minutes to two hours after consuming dairy and last for several hours until the undigested lactose moves through the digestive system. For some people, the symptoms can last up to 48 hours or even longer. 

Lactose intolerance refers to a sensitivity to the proteins in milk, such as casein or whey. Unlike a dairy allergy, which involves a dangerous immune response, a non-allergic dairy protein intolerance only causes digestive symptoms. In females, a protein intolerance can be confused with lactose intolerance, as they share common symptoms like bloating or diarrhea. However, dairy protein intolerance can lead to other issues, such as skin rashes or a feeling of sluggishness, which are not typical symptoms of lactose intolerance. 

Lactose intolerance is generally caused by the body’s inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk. It happens due to a deficiency of the lactase enzyme. The symptoms occur within 30 minutes or 2 hours after consuming dairy. 

• Bloating and gas: Undigested lactose ferments in the colon, which produces gas. It leads to bloating and discomfort. 

• Stomach cramps: The fermentation and movement of undigested lactose cause cramps in the gut. 

• Diarrhea: The presence of undigested lactose draws water into the large intestine, resulting in loose stools. 

• Nausea: Some individuals can feel nausea. 

Pregnancy alters gut motility and microbiota that trigger or reveal a latent lactase deficiency. 

Hormonal changes, especially a drop in estrogen, affect the bacteria in digestive system, which leads to increased sensitivity and the onset of problems.

During pregnancy, the body goes through massive changes. Hormonal fluctuations and the stress on the body affect gut health and lead to lactose intolerance. 

It’s an unlikely scenario that a diagnosed lactose intolerance will disappear during pregnancy. However, some women can experience a temporary relief in symptoms due to hormonal changes. 

For children lactose intolerance can be temporary sometimes. It can happen if the child has any illness in the small intestine. But once the gut heals, lactose intolerance can reoccur. However, in adults, the symptoms are permanent. 

The symptoms of lactose intolerance can be triggered by external factors like stress, illness, or hormonal changes. The temporary cases happen due to secondary lactose intolerance. In this scenario a condition like celiac disease or a stomach bug damages the small intestine. Once the underlying issue is resolved, lactase production will be normal. The permanent cases are genetic that never goes away. 

Ignoring lactose intolerance doesn’t lead to any life-threatening conditions, but it causes severe discomfort, nutritional deficiencies and impacts the overall well-being. Let’s explore what happens if you ignore lactose intolerance.

When you ignore lactose intolerance, the undigested lactose continues to ferment in the large intestine. It causes several conditions, like chronic inflammation, and disrupts gut flora. You will continuously experience the uncomfortable pain, bloating, gas, stomach cramps, and even diarrhea. 

If you have lactose intolerance and you ignore it for longer, you will put yourself at nutritional risk. Untreated lactose intolerance can weaken your bones. 

Ignoring lactose intolerance in babies can be quite serious as their bodies are in the developing phase. 

• The constant diarrhea that happens due to lactose intolerance, can cause poor absorption off the essential nutrients in babies. 

• Severe diarrhea can even lead to dangerous levels of dehydration in babies. 

• The baby will not gain weight and grow as expected. It will cause long-term development consequences. 

This is a common myth. Drinking milk never cures lactose intolerance. In fact, it can worsen your symptoms. The body’s inability to produce to lactase can’t be reversed by consuming more lactose. Gradual exposure to dairy products can help the gut adapt small amounts of lactose, but it won’t fix the underlying enzyme deficiency. 

Lactase supplements contain the lactase enzyme that helps your body break down the lactose in dairy. Hence, lactase supplements are a great way to enjoy dairy products without symptoms. Lactose free milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese are excellent for managing diet. 

It is the most effective solution to get relief from lactose intolerance immediately. These tablets contain lactase enzymes that your body is missing. You can take one or two tablets immediately before the first bite of a dairy-containing food. It helps your body digest the lactose and prevent symptoms from occurring. 

For immediate relief from bloating and gas, over the counter antacid or simethicone products can help. However, it won't address the underlying lactose issue. These medicines provide temporary relief from the uncomfortable pressure. 

It is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps to soothe the digestive tract. Thus, it reduces nausea and stomach cramps. 

This is similar to ginger tea that helps to relax the muscles of the digestive system. Also, it helps to ease gas and cramps. 

Drinking sufficient water helps to replenish fluids and electrolytes. 

Probiotic supplements or foods help to restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria. It aids in digestion and reduces discomfort gradually. 

• You shouldn't panic as the pain and discomfort will pass with time. Stress can make your symptoms feel worse. 

• You can take a lactase enzyme tablet. If your symptoms have started, it helps your body process the remaining lactose. 

• Drink plain water or herbal tea like peppermint or ginger tea to stay hydrated and soothe your stomach. 

• Make sure not to consume any more dairy products for the rest of the day. Thus, your digestive system will recover.

• You can lie down with a warm compress on your stomach. It will ease your cramps. Give your body time to move the undigested lactose through your system.

• A slow walk can sometimes help relieve gas and bloating. Avoid heavy exercise that can worsen the stomach cramps. 

By being prepared with lactase tablets and knowing proper home remedies, you can manage the discomfort immediately. 

The best way to manage lactose intolerance is to control your lactose intake. You don't need to completely eliminate dairy intake completely. Many people can tolerate small amounts of dairy intake. 

You can consume lactose free milk and dairy products. These products have the lactase enzyme added during processing, breaking down the lactose and making them digestible. These foods provide the same nutrients as regular dairy without any digestive issue. 

You can opt for plant based alternatives. Plant based milks, yogurts, and cheese are easily available nowadays. You also can choose soy, almond, and oat milk that are naturally lactose free. 

Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan cheese contain very little amount of lactose and they are easily digestible. You can consume these low lactose foods. 

You can combine dairy products with other foods as it will slow down the digestive process. It will give your body more time to break down the lactose and potentially reduce symptoms. 

Lactose can be a hidden ingredient in many packaged and processed foods. You must read the food labels before purchasing any packaged or processed foods. 

Note: Remember that lactic acid, lactate, and lactalbumin are not the same as lactose. You can consume those. 

Lactose intolerance is a manageable condition. The symptoms can be permanent. Managing lactose intolerance involves dietary modifications, using lactase supplements, and taking over the counter medicines. If you suspect you have lactose intolerance, at-home tests can be helpful. But make sure to consult a doctor to get proper treatment. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to nutritional deficiencies and long term discomfort. With proper treatment, you can easily live a symptom-free life. 

**Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).