Ways To Know If You Are Lactose Intolerant

Onset Of Symptoms

The onset of symptoms in someone who is lactose intolerant usually occurs within a half an hour to two hours after they ingest dairy. Besides the increased gas and flatulence and stomach rumbling sounds, the affected individual, we know, also experiences cramping, stomach pain, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. The pain is caused by the release of gases and water as the lactose ferments in the colon. The fermentation also produces fatty acids, which contribute to the pain. The bloating is also caused by the gas and increased volumes of water, which causes the wall of the colon to distend. The increase in the amount of water in the colon due to lactose intolerance makes the stool found there loose, which leads to diarrhea. However, these uncomfortable symptoms aren’t directly related to how much lactose the individual has ingested, but to how sensitive their body is to their symptoms. Fortunately, lactose intolerance does not damage an individual’s gastrointestinal tract, no matter how unpleasant and severe the symptoms are.