Lactose, a sugar present in milk and dairy products, can cause lactose intolerance in people of any age.

This condition occurs when the body lacks or cannot properly use the lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose.

This may happen due to the body’s inability to produce sufficient amounts of this enzyme or because of some other factors such as digestive system issues like; bowel infections, Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Giardiasis, Ascariasis, and others.

Through this article, we will answer your question: Why am I suddenly lactose intolerant with details.

Why Am I Suddenly Lactose Intolerant?

The body can suddenly develop lactose intolerance as a result of what is known as “secondary lactose intolerance” as a result of damage to the small intestine.

This damage may occur as a result of surgery or injury, or due to exposure to a chronic inflammatory disease or microbial infection, or other medical conditions.

This causes damage to the cells that produce the lactase enzyme.

Then the person suddenly becomes unable to tolerate the lactose that he was previously able to digest. (Malik & Panuganti, 2023)

Types of Lactose Intolerance

There are four main types of lactose intolerance:

• Primary: It occurs due to a lack of production of the lactase enzyme in the small intestine.
• Secondary: It occurs as a result of exposure to an injury or disease that causes damage to the small intestine.
• Congenital: It occurs as a result of a defect in the formation of the fetus that causes Lactase deficiency.
• Developmental: It is a type that appears later after birth as a result of incomplete development of the small intestine.

The Difference Between Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance

A milk allergy is a problem that affects the immune system, causing it to have an allergic reaction to one of the components of milk, ranging from itching or rash, to life-threatening shortness of breath.

As for lactose intolerance, it is a problem that occurs in the digestive system as a result of the inability to digest the sugar lactose.

The first case may require urgent medical intervention, while in the second case, the resulting symptoms can be treated at home, as it is not an emergency.

Foods Containing Lactose

Milk and dairy products are the most common types of foods that contain lactose.

Lactose can also be found in the following foods:

• baked goods
• Cereals
• Ready meals.
• Frozen meals.
• Instant soups.
• Coffee cream.
• Margarine.
• Sauces.

Therefore, you must be sure to read the ingredients of these foods to ensure that they do not contain lactose. (NHS, 2023)

What Happens if You Ignore Lactose Intolerance?

Ignoring the problem of lactose intolerance for long periods and not taking possible measures, such as stopping eating foods rich in lactose, and paying attention to the main reasons that led to this occurrence can have serious consequences.

It means that the intestines are exposed to more damage.

This will cause a weakening of its ability to absorb the nutrients needed for the health and well-being of the body.

Our article today will answer this question: Why do I suddenly suffer from lactose intolerance in detail.

How Long Do Lactose Intolerance Symptoms Last?

The duration of symptoms of lactose intolerance varies based on the amount of lactose ingested and the level of lactase enzyme production in the body.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance, such as bloating, abdominal pain, and discomfort, usually disappear within 48 hours, as the digestive system gets rid of all the lactose it received during that period or less.

Lactose Intolerance Symptoms in Adults

When the body suffers from lactose intolerance, a person experiences the following symptoms shortly after eating foods containing lactose:

• Abdominal pain.
• Stomach rumbling.
• Feeling sick.
• Vomiting.
• Feeling uncomfortable.
• Bloating.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Farting.

Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance in Females

The symptoms of lactose intolerance in women are no different than in men.

Except in cases of pregnancy, as studies indicate that the equivalent of 44% of pregnant women have no symptoms of lactose intolerance during pregnancy, even if they had the symptoms before or after. (Roy, 2019)

Diagnosis of Lactose Intolerance

If you suffer from symptoms of lactose intolerance after consuming milk and milk products, you can talk to your doctor, who will prescribe some tests to confirm the diagnosis, the most important of which are:

• Breath tests: This measures the percentage of hydrogen in your breath. If it is high, this may indicate that you have lactose intolerance.
• Blood test: It is done after you eat a food rich in lactose to measure its level in the blood.

Your doctor may check for other health conditions that affect digestion, because they could have symptoms that mimic lactose intolerance. For example, you may be tested for milk allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth, etc… (NIH, 2018)

Treatment of Lactose Intolerance

There is usually no need to prescribe specific medications to treat lactose intolerance.

But foods containing milk and other dairy products are avoided.

Make sure that the foods you eat are free of milk ingredients.

How do you protect yourself from developing symptoms of lactose resistance?

You can do this simply by not eating foods that contain lactose, and you can also do the following:

• If you want to eat food that contains lactose, take a lactase enzyme tablet beforehand, which will do the work of the natural enzyme that the body produces and digests.
• Eat milk and dairy products that are lactose-free, which can give you the same benefits of milk, such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D.

Can Lactose Intolerance Go Away?

For secondary lactose intolerance, the symptoms of lactose intolerance can disappear after treating the underlying condition that caused the problem.

As is the case with infections of the small intestine that affect its functions.

This does not include the other types of the condition.

We hope you have obtained the information you are interested in knowing about your question Why do I suddenly suffer from lactose intolerance .

Read Also: What Decreases Iron Absorption?

References

Malik, T. F., & Panuganti, K. K. (2023). Lactose Intolerance. National Library of Medicine.

NHS. (2023, January 05). Lactose intolerance. Retrieved from NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lactose-intolerance/

NIH. (2018, February). Diagnosis of Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance/diagnosis

Roy, P. K. (2019). Lactose Intolerance. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/187249-overview?form=fpf#a4