There are various symptoms of lactose intolerance that you should be aware of

Some people's bodies don't produce enough of the enzyme lactase to digest lactose. Lactose itself is a type of sugar that is specifically found in dairy products, such as milk, butter (butter), cheese and ice cream. When you don't have enough lactase, your stomach won't be able to convert the lactose into energy. Undigested lactose actually causes various symptoms of indigestion. This condition is known as lactose intolerance. So, what are the common symptoms of lactose intolerance?

List of symptoms of lactose intolerance

Symptoms of lactose intolerance can occur when you cannot digest all of the lactose that has entered from food.

So, what symptoms might people with lactose intolerance experience?

1. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the typical symptoms of lactose intolerance. Diarrhea due to lactose intolerance is more common in infants and children than in adults.

According to an explanation from the journal Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, lactose should be fermented in the large intestine and converted into short chain fatty acids.

Most of these fatty acids will be reabsorbed by the body, while the rest can increase the volume of water that is flowed into the large intestine. The more fluid in the large intestine, the more water is carried along with the stool.

Generally, diarrhea occurs when the large intestine immediately accommodates 45 grams of carbohydrates. This carbohydrate dose is equivalent to drinking 3-4 cups of milk on an empty stomach.

2. Stomach pain

A churning and churning stomach after consuming dairy products is a symptom of lactose intolerance. This symptom can appear in infants, children, and adults who have lactose intolerance.

According to the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, pain occurs when the stomach is unable to break down lactose for distribution to the large intestine. The pain is usually located around the navel and in the lower part of the stomach.

This lactose fermentation causes the release of short chain fatty acids as well as gases such as hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. Well, this increase in acid and gas in the stomach can trigger the sensation of pain and cramps.

3. Bloating

Still according to the journal Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, lactose carbohydrates cannot be absorbed by the cells lining the large intestine. However, lactose can be fermented and broken down by the natural bacteria that live there.

The bacteria that digest lactose will produce gas and the intestines will draw excess water from the body. As a result, the intestines that are flooded with lots of water and fill with gas can stimulate the sensation of bloating or bloating.

Symptoms of bloating due to lactose intolerance are not affected by how much dairy you eat. However, the symptoms of lactose intolerance depend on the sensitivity of each person, so the intensity of the pain can be felt differently from person to person.

Bloating is generally also accompanied by a rumbling sound in the stomach, otherwise known as borborygmi. This occurs when lactose, which the bacteria in the intestines cannot digest, produces excess gas. This gas that fills up your intestinal tract makes a growling sound (but you don't feel hungry).

4. Fart or burp

Lactose that isn't digested properly can also cause you to fart or burp a lot.

The gas that the intestines produce when digesting lactose is known as endogenous gas, which consists of hydrogen and methane. However, this accumulated gas in the stomach has to escape so as not to keep you bloated. Normally, the gas will be expelled through the rectum as a fart or from the mouth, aka belching.

In some people who are lactose intolerant, the gas also often contains hydrogen sulfide. Especially when you drink milk while eating other foods such as onions or eggs.

5. Nausea and vomiting

In some cases, symptoms of lactose intolerance can also cause nausea or even vomiting. This condition can occur between 30 minutes to two hours after consuming dairy products.

This reaction of nausea and vomiting arises from the digestive system unable to fully digest lactose. Excess lactose in the stomach is read by the brain as a harmful foreign substance, so it needs to be expelled quickly.

To get rid of lactose and to relieve other symptoms of intolerance, the brain stimulates the nerves in the stomach causing the sensation of nausea and vomiting. This reaction can appear immediately after consuming milk.

6. Constipation

Constipation (difficulty in defecating) is one of the less common symptoms of lactose intolerance. This is believed to occur because the bacteria in the large intestine cannot completely digest lactose, thus producing methane gas.

The methane gas that fills the stomach can slow down the time it takes for food to move through the intestines. Finally, this condition can cause some people to feel constipated.

When to see a doctor

You are obliged to see a doctor if symptoms of lactose intolerance do not improve within 3 days to 1 week. If you experience nausea and vomiting after drinking milk, you should also immediately see a doctor.

Your doctor can usually tell if you have lactose intolerance by asking questions about your symptoms. Your doctor may also ask you to avoid dairy for a short time to see if your symptoms improve.

Sometimes your doctor will recommend that you do a hydrogen breath test or a blood sugar test to diagnose the symptoms of lactose intolerance more clearly.

The severity of symptoms of lactose intolerance that appear in each parent can be different. Someone who has lactose intolerance can consume dairy products without feeling any symptoms, but there are also those who experience it immediately in a severe degree even though they only eat a little.

This all depends on the amount of lactose the body can process or how many servings of milk are consumed. We recommend that you visit a doctor for further examination, treatment and treatment.