The primary symptoms of lactose intolerance include explosive and sudden bowel movements with loose and watery stools. Lactose intolerance symptoms are uncomfortable and embarrassing but do not cause any permanent damage to your digestive system. Although the condition is incurable, it is managed through medication and diet modification. If you notice that your stools are different after eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. Your doctor can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
Background
Lactose intolerance is a common condition that mainly affects people with African, Native American, South American or Asian backgrounds. The condition is least common among Americans of northern European descent. Lactose is a sugar found in all types of milk that cannot be absorbed by the body in its natural state. Lactase, a digestive enzyme, is needed to simplify the sugar, making it digestible. If you lack lactase, the lactose goes undigested and causes abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea.
Cause
The causes of lactose intolerance vary. The primary reason lactose intolerance occurs is from natural aging. When you're first born, your digestive system creates a lot of lactase to digest breast milk or infant formula. As you age, your digestive system slows down the production of this enzyme, leaving you unable to digest the lactose. Other rare reasons for lactose intolerance are a digestive disease, such as Crohn's, a gastric illness, such as the stomach flu, or injury to the intestines. Some premature babies are lactose intolerant until around their expected due date.
Your Stool
Your stool is significantly affected by lactose intolerance. You may notice that your stool is watery, loose, foul-smelling, floats and may contain mucus. This is because the lactose enters the colon undigested and interacts with bacteria. The bacteria cause the creation of gas and bloating. Once bacteria interact with the lactose, the body attempts to rid itself of the undigested sugar as fast as possible. This is what causes the sudden urge to have a bowel movement. Most symptoms related to your stool will subside after 1 or 2 bowel movements.
Treatment
Once you've ingested lactose, there is no way to treat your symptoms, including your stool. The best treatment is to purchase lactose-free dairy products, take a lactase enzyme supplement or eliminate milk from your diet. Lactose-free dairy products add lactase to the milk during the manufacturing process to eliminate lactose. A lactase enzyme taken as directed prevents most digestive symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
