Everyone has a certain level of lactose their bodies can handle. If you can't handle the normal amounts of lactose in most dairy products and you develop digestive symptoms, you are lactose intolerant. Depending on how much lactose it takes to overload your intestines will determine how intolerant you are to lactose. If you develop adverse reactions after consuming dairy products, make an appointment with your doctor.
Lactose Overload
A lactose overload is also called lactose intolerance. Your small intestines are lined with cells to produce specific enzymes to help digest the sugars and proteins you ingest through foods and beverages. Lactose is a sugar found in milk that requires the enzyme lactase to break it down into simple sugars that can be absorbed by the body. As most people age, the intestines stop making as much lactase. If your body stops making adequate lactase, you will not be able to digest lactose. This leads to common lactose intolerant symptoms.
Symptoms
Lactose overload symptoms can begin within 20 minutes or up to two hours after you ingest dairy products. Most symptoms are mild to moderate, but in some cases the symptoms may be severe. Common symptoms include gas, bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramping and pain. Your stools will be loose, foul-smelling and will float. In severe cases, you may become nauseous and vomit. If you notice blood in your vomit or stool, you need to call your doctor.
Cause
If you overload your intestines with too much lactose, only a portion of the complex sugar is digested. The remaining lactose goes undigested and passes through the digestive system until it reaches your large intestine, or colon. Once lactose enters the colon, bacteria that live in the colon attack the undigested sugar and cause excessive gas and bloating. This triggers the rest of the symptoms to develop. Once the lactose is expelled from the colon via diarrhea, symptoms will subside.
Treatment
Once you've ingested too much lactose, there is no way to treat the symptoms, aside from drinking water and allowing the body to rid itself of the sugar. You can prevent symptoms from developing by taking a medication that contains the lactase enzyme. This medication is sold over-the-counter at most pharmacies. Talk with your doctor before taking this or any other medication.
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