Lactose intolerance does not cause or affect arthritis. Lactose intolerance affects the digestive system and does not cause inflammation in any other portion of the body, such as the joints. Kids Health states that lactose intolerance and milk allergy are commonly confused because they produce the same symptoms after drinking milk or eating dairy products. If you've been thinking that lactose intolerance is causing your arthritis pain to flare-up, you're most likely mistaking the condition; a milk allergy can cause arthritis pain. Talk with your doctor to receive a full clinical diagnosis.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is caused by digestive difficulty caused by a deficiency of lactase in your digestive system. Lactase is the enzyme that is needed to break down lactose into simpler sugars so that the body can absorb them. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and can cause bloating, gas and diarrhea if you're lactose intolerant. After ingesting dairy products, your body cannot digest the lactose, allowing it to enter the colon undigested. When lactose enters the colon undigested, it interacts with bacteria that leads to excessive gas and diarrhea, according to MayoClinic.com. Most symptoms develop within a half an hour after ingesting dairy foods.
Milk Allergy
A milk allergy is commonly confused with lactose intolerance. A milk allergy can trigger the same digestive systems as lactose intolerance but is not caused by a digestive complication. If you're allergic to milk, your immune system doesn't recognize the proteins in milk, which triggers a chemical reaction throughout your body. This causes the body to create various chemicals, such as antibodies and histamine, according to Kids Health. Histamine is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that keeps infection from developing. Too much histamine released in soft tissues will cause inflammation and swelling, such as in the intestines, lungs, skin and joints.
Arthritis
According to the Center for Food Allergies, food allergies are one of the main triggers of arthritis. Arthritis is a condition characterized by inflamed joints, causing excessive pressure to form, which leads to pain. If you drink milk, the increased amounts of histamine produced in your joints will cause inflammation, triggering common arthritis symptoms. Arthritis symptoms from a milk allergy may not develop for a few hours or the next day after you ingest dairy products.
Treatment
Treating arthritis from a milk allergy is the most effectively treated by avoiding all dairy products. Avoid cheese, yogurt, cream, half and half, custard and ice cream. If you accidentally ingest dairy, call your doctor.
