Lactose Intolerance: Symptoms, Tests and Managing It

What it is

Lactose intolerance means you can't digest foods containing lactose, the sugar in milk and foods made from milk.

Symptoms

After eating lactose, you may feel sick to your stomach, with:

• gas
• diarrhea
• swelling in your stomach

Diagnosis

Your doctor may use a blood, breath or stool test to see whether lactose is the cause.

Managing it

Lactose intolerance isn't serious. What usually helps:

• eating less food with lactose;
• pills or drops that help you digest lactose.

Calcium: milk and milk foods are most people's main calcium source, so you may need a calcium supplement if your diet falls short.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Lactose Intolerance," National Library of Medicine, with content from the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; a work of the United States government in the public domain.