Overview of symptoms of lactose intolerance
Related Videos: Lactose Intolerance vs. Milk Protein Allergy - Dr. Elaine Barfield & Shara Wagowski, RD (May 2024).
Lactose intolerance comes with a variety of symptoms. Affected people often have a long suffering before the diagnosis is made. In this practical tip you will learn which symptoms you can use to recognize a laltose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance: overview of symptoms
In the case of lactose intolerance, affected patients lack the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose. This makes it easy to digest. Without this enzyme, dairy products get into the intestine undigested, where they cause significant problems.
- After eating dairy products, you may experience a feeling of fullness in your stomach. They feel weak and sometimes even experience permanent fatigue.
- The undigested milk sugar causes uncomfortable winds in the intestine, which causes flatulence. On the outside you can see a bloated stomach and stomach pain can occur.
- The irritation in the intestine can lead to both constipation and diarrhea. The latter are often so strong that they can be described as watery.
- People with lactose intolerance also often experience nausea, which can lead to vomiting. At the latest then a doctor is usually consulted.
Unspecific symptoms of lactose intolerance
In addition to the typical key symptoms of lactose intolerance, there are also so-called non-specific complaints. In these, the suspicion does not necessarily arise of lactose intolerance and sufferers suffer very long before intolerance is diagnosed.
- After drinking milk, yogurt or cheese, there can also be only external symptoms such as acne. This disappears immediately as soon as the milk products are left out.
- Physical complaints that seem to have nothing to do with the intestine can also occur. This includes headache or body aches, which are usually noticed with a time delay after eating.
- Confusion with another condition also causes symptoms such as restlessness, sweating or a racing heart. Even blood pressure can increase with lactose intolerance.
- Regardless of what symptoms the affected person has, unfortunately they often lead to the weakened intestinal flora weakening the immune system. The absorption of nutrients and minerals can also be disturbed.