Stomach Pain After Drinking Milk, What's Wrong?

Roseous.com - Stomach Pain After Drinking Milk, What's Wrong? Milk is a healthy intake because it contains many important nutrients needed by the body. But unfortunately, a drink that is identical to the white color can not be consumed carelessly, because it can cause stomach pain in some people.

Yes, milk can cause complaints of abdominal pain when consumed by certain people. This condition occurs due to a medical condition known as lactose intolerance.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is a condition in which a person's body does not have sufficient amounts of lactase enzyme. Therefore, her body is unable to break down lactose (sugar in milk) into glucose and galactose, so the two substances remain in the gastrointestinal tract.

In the large intestine, the unbroken lactose mixes with the bacteria and undergoes a fermentation process. As a result, complaints of bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can not be avoided anymore. Symptoms of lactose intolerance usually appear within 2 hours after drinking milk.

Unlike cow milk allergy

Lactose intolerance is different from cow milk allergy. This is because cow milk allergy is caused by a reaction of the immune system to proteins in milk. In cases of cow's milk allergy, symptoms of redness in the skin, itching, and shortness of breath. All of these symptoms are completely different from the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

If you are allergic to cow's milk, a little bit of swallowed cow's milk can cause a reaction. While in most people who have lactose intolerance, consuming lactose-containing products such as cow's milk in small amounts may not cause any complaints. However, this certainly varies between individuals.

Detect the presence of lactose intolerance

The presence of lactose intolerance can be detected by performing a challenge test, as follows:

1. Stop consuming milk and all kinds of processed products for at least 7 days to several weeks.
2. If the body feels normal or does not experience any complaints, try to consume cow's milk or other dairy products.
3. If a complaint of abdominal pain, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal problems occurs, then you are most likely to have lactose intolerance.

In addition to the challenge test, another examination that can be done to detect the presence of lactose intolerance is a breath test. When performing this test, you just need to breathe normally. If there is a high amount of hydrogen in exhaling, then you are likely to have lactose intolerance. This is because hydrogen is needed in the process of cleavage of lactose in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, if no lactose is ingested, the hydrogen will be carried to the lungs and exhaled outside the body.

Is there a lactose intolerance solution?

A person who has lactose intolerance is not actually prohibited from drinking milk. Because in some cases, lactose intolerance is a temporary (or permanent) complaint depending on the underlying cause.

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Most cases of lactose intolerance that arise in adulthood are genetic and last a lifetime. While in children, lactose intolerance can occur due to gastrointestinal infections and last only a few weeks. However, if you really doubt this and do not want to experience stomach pain after drinking milk, choose milk that is free of lactose content.

So, now know why milk can cause stomachache in certain people? Yes, it's because of lactose intolerance. If you experience this condition and feel very disturbed, do not hesitate to consult further to the doctor.