How the two conditions are different
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and lactose intolerance both lead to grave digestive issues. Due to their overlapping symptoms that occur together, the conditions are misdiagnosed, leading to delay in getting the correct treatment. That has a negative effect on the quality of life. Both the diseases are caused due to different factors, hence are treated differently. To know if you are suffering from IBS or lactose intolerance, you must be familiar with the similarities and differences between the two conditions.
What is Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder related to the problem with how your brain and gut work together. The condition also makes your digestive tract sensitive and interferes with your bowel muscles contract, resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation. In people suffering from IBS, the colon muscle contracts more than usual, leading to cramps and pain. Even their level of tolerance for pain decreases. People in their late teens to early 40s are generally diagnosed with this condition. Besides, women can be twice as likely to be diagnosed with IBS than men. The risk is higher among those who have a family history of IBS, food intolerance, history of physical or sexual abuse, severe digestive tract infection and emotional stress. The condition is also called a disorder of gut-brain interaction.
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What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is also a digestive issue associated with dairy intolerance. People suffering from this condition cannot digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and milk products. Their body is not able to produce enough of an enzyme called lactase required for digesting lactose. Lactose intolerance is not similar to milk allergy, in which the immune system reacts to the proteins in milk, leading to different symptoms.
Lactose is also found in breast milk that every newborn consumes. So, it can be possible that a person is healthy in childhood and develops the condition later. There are different types of lactose intolerance, depending on the cause. When lactose intolerant people consume dairy, they develop similar symptoms to those of IBS. People suffering from intestinal diseases like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or who had undergone bowel surgery or an injury to your small intestine or were born prematurely are more at the risk of developing lactose intolerance.
The symptoms of the two conditions
Some of the symptoms of lactose intolerance and IBS are the same, which leads to confusion during the initial phase. They both can cause:
Bloating or swelling in your belly
Pain
Diarrhoea
Gas
Apart from these, IBS can also lead to constipation. The person might have mucus in their stool or won't feel completely empty even after passing the stool. These symptoms keep on coming and going from time to time.
In the case of lactose intolerance feeling nauseated is quite common. The person starts feeling unwell 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming dairy products.
What are the differences?
Lactose intolerance related symptoms are triggered only after eating dairy products, while IBS can flare up due to several reasons like stress, food or medication. Dairy can also trigger IBS in some people, but this doesn’t mean the person is intolerant to lactose.
Besides, it is easy to identify lactose intolerance cases as they have clear cut symptoms, which is not the case in IBS. Some people suffering from IBS have constipation, while others have diarrhoea. They may even have both from time to time.
Treatment of IBS and Lactose intolerance
The symptoms of IBS may come and go occasionally. All you can do is manage it as there is no way to reverse the condition. Eating more fiber, avoiding gluten, increasing physical activity, reducing stress levels and taking anti-diarrhoea drugs or laxatives are some ways to manage this condition.
Just like IBS, lactose intolerance also has no cure. The only way to manage the condition is by cutting down dairy from the diet. Some people can eat a little amount of dairy, depending on their condition. The doctor may also prescribe lactase enzyme replacements that may help you in some way.