Lactose Intolerance in Thibodaux, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a condition that is highly common among individuals in the United States. Lactose is the primary carb in milk and other dairy items. The body may be “intolerant” of lactose because it can't develop enough of the enzyme lactase needed to break up lactose.
Lactase is an intestinal enzyme produced in your small bowel that helps the body break down lactose. Lactose intolerance, or a dairy allergy as some refer to it, is a mild condition but can produce uncomfortable symptoms based on your body’s level of intolerance.
If you or a family member need help with lactose intolerance in Thibodaux, LA, our gastrointestinal specialists can provide proper care. Request a consultation at a Digestive Health Center location near you and let our experience and expertise guide you down the path toward a better life.
What causes lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a result of the body’s inability to create, or a shortage in the production of, lactase. A couple of the major reasons the reason the body is not able to generate a sufficient amount of lactase to assist break up lactose are explained below:
Primary Lactose Intolerance
Primary lactose intolerance is the more common type of lactose intolerance and is simply caused by the aging process. The older you get, the less lactase your body generates. This variety of lactose intolerance might partially be passed on through hereditary factors and occurs in certain individuals more than others. As reported by the food intolerance network, milk sugar intolerance affects 5 – 17% of Europeans, roughly 44% of Americans, around 50 % of Hispanic/Latino individuals, and 60 – 80% of Asians and Africans.
Secondary Lactose Intolerance
Secondary lactose deficiency commonly happens when the small intestine (the duodenum) is damaged because of an illness, injury, surgical procedure, or a condition like Celiac disease or Crohn’s disease. This is namely because the creation of lactase weakens when the small intestine becomes bloated. Treatment of the disorder could reinstate the function of the duodenum and reinstate lactase amounts to their standard.
To learn more about lactose intolerance, contact a Digestive Health Center location near you to connect with a gastroenterologist provider who specializes in the condition. Our GI team will provide professional advice and information on how to live with lactose intolerance.
What are the signs of lactose intolerance?
The signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance can differentiate for every individual depending on the level of lactase they can yield. A few of the general symptoms of lactose intolerance include:
- Occasional constipation
- Abdominal pains
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Gas
- Bloating or fullness
- Vomiting
In the event you observe any or all of the described signs mentioned here after eating dairy, our gastroenterologist providers in Thibodaux, LA can help to identify a dietary approach that works well for your GI health.
What are the treatment options for lactose intolerance?
Often, the most ideal solution for treating lactose intolerance is to refrain from consuming dairy products altogether. There is presently no possible way to raise lactase output in the body, so the objective of therapy is to avoid the uneasiness connected to ingesting lactose. If you approach lactose intolerance as a dairy allergy, that could help direct you in the choices you make.
Additional therapies and solutions for managing lactose intolerance that our Thibodaux, LA gastrointestinal providers can advise involve:
- Probiotics and prebiotics
- Adding a small servings of dairy products into your meals to build tolerance
- Lactase enzyme supplements
- Lactose-reduced dairy products
Ease your symptoms with professional care
If your lactose intolerance has started to get in the way of you enjoying everyday life, let our well-informed GI specialists at Digestive Health Center intervene and provide solutions. We can create a treatment program to help you renew your GI health so that you can continue doing the things you love without an upset stomach or other debilitating symptoms. To receive care for lactose intolerance in Thibodaux, LA, contact your nearest Digestive Health Center location to request a consultation with one of our skilled providres.
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