Lactose Intolerance in San Antonio, TX
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Find a ProviderWhat is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a common condition among people in the United States. Lactose (milk sugar) is the primary carbohydrate in milk and additional dairy items. Your body may be “intolerant” of lactose because it does not develop enough of the enzyme lactase to process lactose.
Lactase is a digestive enzyme generated in your duodenum (small intestine) that helps digest lactose. Lactose intolerance is not a serious condition but it can lead to irritating symptoms based on your body’s degree of intolerance. Some people reference lactose intolerance as a dairy allergy.
If you or a family member need help managing lactose intolerance in San Antonio, TX, our GI providers can help. Request a consultation at a San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates location near you and let our experience and expertise lead you in a positive direction toward a healthier life.
What causes lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a result of the body’s incapacity to create, or a shortage in the production of, lactase. Two primary justifications as to why the body is unable to yield a sufficient amount of lactase to assist the breakdown of lactose are explained below:
Primary Lactose Intolerance
Primary lactose intolerance is the most common variation of lactose intolerance and is caused by the aging process. The more you age, the less lactase your body develops. This variety of lactose intolerance could partially get passed through genetics and affects certain individuals to a greater extent than others. Per the Food Intolerance Network, lactase deficiency occurs in 5 – 17 percent of Europeans, nearly 44 percent of Americans, nearly 50 percent of Hispanic/Latino individuals, and 60 – 80 percent of Africans and Asians.
Secondary Lactose Intolerance
Secondary lactose deficiency normally happens when the small intestine (duodenum) is harmed because of a sickness, injury, surgical procedure, or a more serious issue like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease. This is because the generation of lactase lessens when the small intestine (duodenum) is swollen. Treatment of the issue may reinstate the function of the small intestine (duodenum) and return lactase amounts to the norm.
To get more information about lactose intolerance, contact a San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates location in your community to connect with a gastrointestinal specialist who offers treatment for the condition. Our GI providers will provide you with knowledgeable advice and information on how to best manage lactose intolerance.
What are the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance?
The symptoms of lactose intolerance can differ for each person depending on the amount of lactase they can generate. Some of the regular symptoms of lactose intolerance are:
- Bloating or fullness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Intermittent constipation
- Abdominal discomfort
Should you have any of the symptoms described above, our GI specialists in San Antonio, TX can provide assistance and find a treatment approach that works the most for your needs.
What are the treatment options for lactose intolerance?
In most instances, the best thing to do if you are lactose intolerant is to avoid dairy goods completely. There is presently no way to increase lactase output in the body, so the objective of treatment is to avoid triggering the GI irritation related to ingesting lactose. If you consider lactose intolerance as a dairy intolerance allergy, that could help lead you in the decisions you make.
Other therapies and answers for living with lactose intolerance that our San Antonio, TX gastrointestinal providers could recommend are:
- Lactase enzyme medications
- Add minute servings of dairy goods into your meals to establish a tolerance
- Prebiotics and probiotics
- Buy lactose-reduced or lactose-free dairy items
Ease your symptoms with expert care
If your lactose intolerance begins interrupting your lifestyle or takes away things you love, let our skilled GI providers at one of our San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates locations intervene. We can craft a treatment plan that helps you renew your quality of life so that you may carry on doing the activities you enjoy. To get care for lactose intolerance in San Antonio, TX, please contact us today to request a consultation.
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