Title: Can You Become Lactose Intolerant Later in Life? | Everyday Health
Headings: Can You Become Lactose Intolerant Later in Life?
Can You Become Lactose Intolerant Later in Life?
Digestive Problems Similar to Lactose Intolerance
How to Determine if You're Lactose Intolerant
How to Manage Different Degrees of Lactose Intolerance
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
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Content: According to the NIH, people of East Asian, West African, Arab, Jewish, Greek, and Italian descent are the most commonly affected by lactose intolerance in adulthood. An injury to your small intestine — whether from an accident, surgery, radiation, infection, or disease — can also leave you unable to drink milk without symptoms, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Drinking poorly treated or untreated water can also cause injury to your bowel that could result in lactose intolerance, Grand adds. Digestive Problems Similar to Lactose Intolerance
But don’t give milk the cold shoulder just yet — digestive discomfort can be caused by other conditions, especially as you get older. Some adults think they have lactose intolerance when they really have a different gastrointestinal issue, such as celiac disease , irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Grand says. The symptoms of lactose intolerance and these diseases, such as abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea, can be similar. One difference between IBD and lactose intolerance is the presence of blood in your stool. You won’t see blood if you’re lactose intolerant, but it’s possible to see blood in your stool if you have IBD. Normal aging may make you more sensitive to digestive disturbances, such as feeling bloated after meals, Grand says. And eating certain foods that irritate the lining of the intestines or stimulate the gut to contract more quickly, such as caffeine or spicy foods, can mimic lactose intolerance symptoms.