A common symptom of lactose intolerance is diarrhea. Diarrhea is loose, watery, frequent stools that create a sense of urgency to pass the bowel movement. Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy, which can also cause diarrhea. A milk allergy will cause other symptoms unrelated to the digestive system to develop. Talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. Any type of persistent diarrhea needs to be evaluated by your doctor.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a common condition among adults. Certain ethic groups are at greater risk of becoming lactose intolerant. According to MayoClinic.com, Africans, Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians are at the greatest risk of developing this condition. Lactose intolerance is life-long and is incurable, but it is manageable with diet modification and certain enzyme supplementation. Diarrhea from lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the lactase enzyme, which helps digest the milk-sugar, lactose. Without proper digestion, the complex sugar cannot be absorb by the body and is expelled by the intestines.
Diarrhea
When you are lactose intolerant, about 20 to 30 minutes, or up to a few hours, after you ingest lactose, you may become bloated, nauseous, gassy and develop diarrhea. Your stool will appear loose, watery and smell foul. The stool may also float in the toilet. Your symptoms should only last for a few hours. Diarrhea from lactose intolerance will only last as long as the sugar remains in your digestive system. Once it's expelled, the symptoms should subside. If they remain, call your doctor.
Diarrhea Concern
If you develop diarrhea, you need to drink more liquid to prevent dehydration. Diarrhea causes the removal of excessive amounts of liquid from your body. If you don't replenish with more liquid, you could become dehydrated. Dehydration is a serious medical concern that could cause life-threatening effects. Common symptoms of dehydration include limited urine output, sunken eyes, dry mouth, feeling lethargic and appearing flushed. If you develop any of these symptoms, call 911.
Prevention
If you're lactose intolerant, you can prevent symptoms by buying lactose-free dairy products, avoiding dairy or taking a lactase enzyme supplement. Lactose-free dairy products add lactase during the production of the product, eliminating the milk-sugar. If you choose to eliminate dairy, increase your consumption of foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D such as spinach, soy and broccoli.
