Lactose Intolerance

Know More about Lactose Intolerance

Gas, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort are common symptoms for people with lactose intolerance when consuming certain foods. Although lactose intolerance may cause discomfort, people with this condition do not always have to avoid dairy foods altogether. Symptoms may be managed by limiting certain kinds of food or taking a supplement. Some people with lactose intolerance can consume certain amounts of foods containing lactose without having symptoms but it varies from person to person. Over-the-counter products containing lactase and other ingredients may help with indigestion, potentially providing relief for lactose intolerance symptoms. These products are typically taken right before consuming lactose containing foods. Walgreens offers many lactose intolerance products for purchase in stores and online.

What is lactose?

Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose is further broken down by the body into glucose and galactose, which is absorbed in the bloodstream and used for energy. Although lactose is found in all milk and milk products, it may be present in other foods including:

Products may contain lactose if they contain the following ingredients on the package: milk, lactose, whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids or nonfat dry milk powder. If you’re lactose intolerant, you should check ingredients of all products, even if you think they don’t contain lactose.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is an insufficient ability to digest foods that contain lactose, commonly dairy products. People with lactose intolerance lack a certain enzyme called lactase, which is needed for digesting lactose. Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy or lactose malabsorption. Symptoms of lactose intolerance vary from person to person, as some people may have more of a deficiency in lactase.

What helps with lactose intolerance pain?

Abdominal pain from lactose intolerance is frequently caused by gas and cramping. Changes in your diet to reduce or eliminate lactose can help reduce the frequency and degree of pain. If you experience pain from lactose intolerance, there are a variety of over-the-counter supplements with the ingredient lactase that may help with digesting lactose. Lactase products may be offered in a variety of forms including oral capsules and chewable tablets. There are also lactose-free food products that can be a substitute for dairy milk. Ask your Walgreens pharmacist in stores or online in Pharmacy Chat for assistance with choosing products for lactose intolerance management and symptom relief.

How long do lactose intolerance symptoms last?

Symptoms of lactose intolerance typically begin between 30 minutes and 2 hours after eating foods with lactose. However, the severity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person, and it also depends on the amount of lactose-containing products consumed. It’s important to keep track of foods that may cause you to have symptoms so that you can monitor what you eat. You can find a variety lactose-free products and lactose intolerance supplements in stores and online at Walgreens.