Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

Lactase deficiency, also known as lactose intolerance is a medical circumstance wherein the person who has lactose intolerance symptoms is unable to digest lactose or milk sugar that is usually found in dairy products or in milk itself. Even though this is not a dangerous condition, most lactose intolerance symptoms are absolutely uncomfortable and it makes those who have it completely avoid eating dairy products.

The lack of lactase is what causes lactose intolerance. Lactase is an enzyme that the small intestine produces which helps in digesting lactose into two simpler kinds of sugar – glucose and galactose. The shortage of lactase leads to milk sugar to be improperly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream.

There are approximately 30 to 50 million people in the United States who have lactose intolerance. Moreover, it has been discovered that certain ethnic and racial populations are far more likely to have this condition. For instance, roughly 90% of Asian Americans, 80% of American Indians, and 80% of African Americans are estimated to have lactose intolerance.

Lactose Intolerance Causes

Primary Lactase Deficiency: Primary lactase deficiency is a medical condition that develops through time. This happens approximately after you are 2 years old and the body has decreased lactase production.

Secondary Lactase Deficiency: Secondary lactase deficiency happens when the digestive system or the small intestines have been through a disease and cause a significant decrease in lactase production in the body. Examples of the diseases that can affect the small intestine are celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s Disease.

Genetic Reasons for Lactase Deficiency: it has been discovered that there is a genetic link that causes lactose intolerance. This means that there are some people who have higher chances of getting primary lactase deficiency because they inherited this medical condition directly from their biological parents.

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms

One of the major symptoms of lactase deficiency is the uneasy feeling right after consuming milk products.D iarrhea, bloating, gas, nausea and cramps are just some of the usual lactose intolerance symptoms that can either be mild or severe. The lactose intolerance symptoms mentioned earlier can manifest in as fast as 1 or 2 hours after eating foods are high in lactose.

The degree of the above mentioned lactose intolerance symptoms depends heavily on different factors like the person’s unique digestion rate, the person’s ethnicity, the person’s age and the person’s capability to endure lactose. The degree of lactose intolerance symptoms is definitely not associated with the severity of lactose mal-absorption. Considering this, the symptoms are indeed related to a wide range of reasons such as how the food is absorbed, ethnicity and age.

If you think that you are experiencing lactose intolerance symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Do not, in any event self-diagnose because it may be a sign of other and more harmful diseases. Your doctor should be able to help you in discovering whether or not you have lactose intolerance or other serious medical conditions, and form a proper plan of action.