Any condition that affects the organs of the digestive tract and the process of digestion is classified as a digestive disorder. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that digestive diseases affect 60 to 70 million people in the U.S. Two common digestive disorders, lactose intolerance and gastritis, share similar symptoms but affect different digestive organs and respond to different treatments.
Description
Doctors use the term gastritis to describe a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach. Depending on the cause, gastritis can occur suddenly, known as acute gastritis, or over time, known as chronic gastritis. Lactose intolerance describes a condition that affects the intestines. Primary lactose intolerance develops over time and secondary lactose intolerance occurs when another digestive disorder damages the lining of the small intestine.
Cause
Any condition that compromises the protective layers of the stomach can lead to gastritis. Damage to the mucus membranes lining the stomach allows stomach acid to irritate and inflame the stomach wall. Common causes of gastritis include bacterial infections, regular use of pain relievers, excessive alcohol use, bile reflux disease and parasitic infections. Some people develop gastritis when the cells of their immune system mistakenly attack the stomach lining causing damage. The cells lining the small intestine produce an enzyme known as lactase necessary to break down the sugar in milk known as lactose. When your body fails to produce enough of this enzyme, usually due to genetic factors, your body cannot break down lactose and it remains in the intestines. Once it reaches the large intestine bacteria attempt to break it down through the process of fermentation, which causes the uncomfortable abdominal symptoms.
Symptoms
Gastritis does not always cause symptoms, but when it does the most noticeable symptom is a burning or gnawing pain referred to as indigestion. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting and a feeling of fullness felt in the upper abdomen after eating. The symptoms of lactose intolerance include gas, abdominal pain and bloating that also causes a feeling of fullness. You may also experience diarrhea and nausea. The symptoms of gastritis usually occur after eating because the food irritates the exposed stomach wall. The symptoms of lactose intolerance occur between 30 minutes and two hours after consuming milk or other dairy products.
Treatment
To effectively treat gastritis, your doctor must diagnose the underlying condition causing the gastritis. If a bacterial infection caused the gastritis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. To help the stomach lining heal, you can take medications to block the production of stomach acid or neutralize the acid. The best treatment for lactose intolerance is to avoid consuming milk and other dairy products high in lactose. You can also buy lactose-free products that contain the enzyme lactase so that your body does not have to break it down. You can also take lactase enzyme drops or tablets before consuming dairy products, but there is no treatment available to promote your body's internal production of lactase.
