Herbal Treatment

A typical attack of Meniere’s disease is preceded by fullness in one ear. Hearing fluctuation or changes in tinnitus may also precede an attack. A Meniere’s episode generally involves severe vertigo (spinning), imbalance, nausea and vomiting. The average attack lasts two to four hours. Following a severe attack, most people find that they are exhausted and must sleep for several hours. There is a large amount of variability in the duration of symptoms. Some people experience brief “shocks and others have constant unsteadiness. The majority of people with Meniere’s disease are over 40 years of age, with equal distribution between males and females

The symptoms of Ménière’s disease occur suddenly and can arise daily or as infrequently as once a year. Vertigo, often the most debilitating symptom of Ménière’s disease, typically involves a whirling dizziness that forces the sufferer to lie down. Vertigo attacks can lead to severe nausea, vomiting, and sweating and often come with little or no warning. Other occasional symptoms of Ménière’s disease include headaches, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. A person’s hearing tends to recover between attacks but over time becomes worse.

Some individuals with Ménière’s disease have attacks that start with tinnitus, a loss of hearing, or a full feeling or pressure in the affected ear. It is important to remember that all of these symptoms are unpredictable. Typically, the attack is characterized by a combination of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss lasting several hours. But people experience these discomforts at varying frequencies, durations, and intensities. Some may feel slight vertigo a few times a year. Others may be occasionally disturbed by intense, uncontrollable tinnitus while sleeping. And other Ménière’s disease sufferers may notice a hearing loss and feel unsteady all day long for prolonged periods.

Many patients, however, do not develop the three typical symptoms of Meniere’s Disease at once, but may first suffer from attacks of either hearing loss or vertigo. These patients usually go on to develop the classic combination of symptoms months or years later. There are rarer variations of the disease, including one during which hearing actually improves. Another variation is characterized by drop attacks, during which patients suffer such sudden, intense vertigo that they fall to the ground. The severity, frequency, and length of Meniere’s Disease attacks are extremely variable. Some people experience several episodes a day while others have them only once every several years.

The vertigo patient perceives either that the world is spinning around them or that they themselves are spinning. With many other disabilities, some portion of a normal life can be continued. Vertigo disrupts virtually every aspect of life, since the patient loses the ability to do anything normally, especially when movement is involved. In addition to the obvious hazard of falling, moving around is hampered by the fact that even small head movements often make the spinning sensation worse. The resulting nausea, sweating and vomiting combine to make the patient subjectively very “ill”. Vertigo can totally incapacitate the individual, so they cannot function. Often the patient will confine themselves to bed until the symptoms subside.

The severity, frequency and duration of each of these sensory perception problems vary. For example, you could have frequent episodes with severe vertigo and only mild disturbances in other sensations. Or you may experience mild vertigo and hearing loss infrequently but have frequent tinnitus that disturbs your sleep.

Meningiomas are rarely malignant in their behavior. But when malignant, meningiomas grow rapidly and are destructive; they are quite difficult to treat, and recur oftentimes in less than a year after surgical removal. They are also difficult for the pathologist to diagnose under the microscope. Probably the only finding that correlates well with the diagnosis is that of numerous cells seen in division (“mitosis”). The pathologist may occasionally speak of brain and skull invasion, cells with an abnormal appearance, or other bizarre findings, however none of these completey fit the diagnosis. Ultimately, the diagnosis is determined by the activity of the particular tumor over time.

Most people with a meningioma will only have a tumor at only one site, but it is also possible to have several tumors growing simultaneously in different parts of the brain and spinal cord. When multiple meningiomas occur, more than one type of treatment may have to be used. Meningiomas vary in their symptoms and appropriate treatment options depending on where they are located. A primary brain tumor originates in the central nervous system, while metastatic brain tumors spread to the brain from other parts of the body. Meningiomas account for about 27% of primary brain tumors, making them the most common of that type.

Symptoms of Meningioma

Meningioma is usually a very slow-growing tumor, so signs and symptoms may be subtle and gradually worsen over a long period of time.Some people with a meningioma experience no signs and symptoms.

Most people with a meningioma will only have a tumor at only one site, but it is also possible to have several tumors growing simultaneously in different parts of the brain and spinal cord. When multiple meningiomas occur, more than one type of treatment may have to be used. 

Causes of Meningioma

Meningioma occurs in the cells that make up the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord, forming a protective barrier. It isn’t clear what causes meningioma to form. Doctors know that something alters some cells in your meninges to make them multiply out of control, leading to a meningioma tumor. But whether this occurs because of genes you inherit, things you’re exposed to in your environment or a combination of both remains unknown. Doctors have, however, identified factors that may increase the risk of meningioma. 

Neuroscientists are not certain of the cause of meningioma, although several theories are being investigated. Most agree that a malformed chromosome is the most common abnormality in meningiomas, but the cause of this abnormality is unknown. People with a genetic disorder known as neurofibromatosis type 2 (Nf2) are more likely to develop meningiomas. Of people with malignant meningiomas, a higher percent have mutations in NF2. 

Treatment for Meningioma

Surgery – complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice for most meningiomas however, incomplete removal may be more appropriate for tumors in specific locations such as meningiomas of the medial sphenoid wing, orbital, tentorial, clival and posterior parasagittal tumors.

Radiation Therapy – can decrease the recurrence rate in incompletely removed tumors. Stereotactic radiotherapy is useful to minimize the dose to surrounding structures and is particularly useful to treat meningiomas adjacent to the optic nerves or brainstem.

Snoring can be a lot more than an irritant to bed partners and other listeners. It’s often a symptom of progressive sleep apnea syndrome, a disorder that not only stymies the snorer’s slumber but also can have serious effects on blood pressure, risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and even mortality.

Sleep insomnia, in some cases, is recognizable by your difficulty falling asleep or your inability to maintain sleep. Other people who suffer from insomnia complain of waking up too early in the morning and not being able to go back to bed.Whatever causes you to complain about sleep insomnia, recognizing the symptoms can help you to seek treatment and eventually manage the condition and get the sleep you need. I know it may seem like a fantasy, but it is possible for you to live a normal life and get the proper amount of sleep, even if you suffer from sleep insomnia. You just need to educate yourself about how to get rid of your insomnia.

Apnea, in most people, is an anatomical issue, not solely a weight issue.  As such, there are radical procedures, such as one that you can have done to have your lower jaw broken, shunts added to bring it (and your tongue) forward, and a few other things done all at once.  Your appearance will likely be altered, and you may get rid of the apnea.  Or you may not. I know a guy who had that procedure done a few years ago.  For him it was a matter of life-and-death — literally.  He still has moderate apnea (42 apnea an hour), uses a BiPAP, and the doctors told him — despite being in terrific physical condition with a low body-fat count — to just count on using xPAP for the rest of his life.

The short-term effects of a sleeping disorder can include fatigue and a lack of alertness, as well as short-term memory loss. Extreme long-term effects of a lack of rest can include cardio vascular disease and chronic fatigue. Both of these sleep disorders can affect your career and quality of life as well as putting you and your family at risk if you are unable to perform such tasks as driving without being drowsy.

Avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine, which is often used for its ability to keep you alert during the day and, if possible, don’t eat a large meal before bedtime. After eating your evening meal and/or snacks, try to allow at least 2 ½ to 3 hours o pass before you go to bed. The digestive process can take up to five hours and can interfere with sleep.

When a person suffers from insomnia, the two organs most often out of balance are the Heart and the Liver. Each of these two organs houses a specific aspect of the spirit. If these organs are out of balance, they will not be able to house the spirit properly, and the spirit will wander. (TCM, although a very complex medical system, had its origins in Taoism, and before that in shamanism. Therefore, there is a spiritual consciousness built into TCM theory.)

When the bacteria or virus attack the body, they initially have to face the tonsils. In the process of fighting towards the germs and microbes the tonsils get inflamed (called tonsillitis) which is simply a symbol of the local defense mechanism at work. In the process, they produce lymphocytes, and antibodies to generate the required immune response. When you see the tonsil infected, inflamed and swollen, actually you are seeing the tonsils at work. However, it is not implied that the inflamed tonsils do not need treatment. They do need treatment with a scientific attitude. They need to be treated but not to be necessarily removed!

Chronic cryptic tonsillitis is sometimes treated with antibiotics, but this is usually only helpful temporarily. Some mechanical methods, such as picks and swabs, may be used also, but the only permanent cure is a tonsillectomy. Not everyone with chronic cryptic tonsillitis has symptoms severe enough to warrant surgery.

Treatment for tonsillitis depends on whether it was caused by a virus or bacteria. If the tonsillitis was caused by strep bacteria (streptococci), the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. If the tonsillitis was caused by a virus, your body will fight off the infection on its own. However, medication can be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms.

Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, and antibiotics won’t help. The only thing you can do is let the virus run its course — and take steps to relieve pain and inflammation. Recovery may take a week or two. Drink warm, soothing liquids — such as soup, broth and tea. Gargle with warm salt water. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to help reduce fever and decrease pain. Because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome — a potentially life-threatening illness — don’t give aspirin to children younger than age 12.

Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial tonsillitis, such as that caused by streptococcal bacteria. However, research has shown that the effects of using antibiotics to treat the symptoms of a sore throat are limited. The results of a clinical study showed that the maximum benefit was seen by day three, and that, on average, the illness time was only reduced by about one day.

Alternative practitioners recommend a variety of natural products for the treatment of tonsillitis. These products include dietary supplements, such as vitamin C and beta-carotenes, and certain herbal remedies. The herbs that are suggested include calendula, cleavers, echinacea, astragalus, goldenseal, myrrh, bitter orange, Lomatium dissectum, and Ligusticum porteri.

Although surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) is still a common procedure, particularly for children, it is not performed nearly as often as it was in the past. Tonsillectomy may be considered to treat tonsillitis when a child has serious complications, recurrent infections, or chronic infections that do not respond to treatment and interfere with daily functioning. However, the risks and benefits of surgery need to be weighed carefully. Tonsillectomy should only be performed after you and your doctor carefully consider your or your child’s overall health.

Abdominal bloating refers to a sensation of fullness or a sense of abdominal enlargement. It is often due to disturbance in the normal function of the gastrointestinal tract which causes an increase in intestinal gas. Gas in the intestine is a mixture of numerous different components which can be increased by swallowing too much air, excess production or impaired absorption due to obstruction. Excess gas causes bloating along with other gas symptoms such as flatulence or burping. If the abdomen is visibly distended in association with bloating, it is more likely that there is an organic, rather than functional cause of the symptom.

If you are of menstruating age or suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, you have likely experienced symptoms of bloating. In a nutshell, bloating is intestinal gas that can cause extreme discomfort and pain. Mild cases of bloating may arise before or during a woman’s monthly cycle. The discomfort is generally localized in the pelvic region. However, persons who suffer from persistent bloating may also feel pain in their sides, chest, abdomen, and so forth.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder of unknown cause. Common symptoms include abdominal cramping or pain, bloating and gassiness, and altered bowel habits. Irritable bowel syndrome has been called spastic colon, functional bowel disease, and mucous colitis. However, IBS is not a true “colitis.” The term colitis refers to a separate condition known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Abdominal Bloating is caused by excessive gas. Over the last few years, different factors have been attributed to the rise of Abdominal Bloating which is now a days common among different sections of people. There are different Types of Abdominal Bloating, though the cause ands effect of this particular disease could be varied. In medicine ascites better known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, hydroperitoneum is actually a type of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their stomachs. For others, belching is a response to any type of abdominal discomfort and not just to discomfort due to increased gas. Everyone knows that when they have mild abdominal discomfort, belching often relieves the problem.

Abdominal pain is caused by inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis ), by stretching or distention of an organ (e.g., obstruction of the intestine, blockage of a bile duct by gallstones, swelling of the liver with hepatitis), or by loss of the supply of blood to an organ (e.g., ischemic colitis). To complicate matters, however, abdominal pain also can occur without inflammation, distention or loss of blood supply.

Many women experience abdominal bloating before, during, or immediately following their menstrual cycle. Over-the-counter medications such as Midol are very effective with relieving abdominal bloating and distention.

What relieves the pain. The pain of IBS and constipation often is relieved temporarily by bowel movements. Pain due to obstruction of the stomach or upper small intestine may be relieved temporarily by vomiting which reduces the distention that is caused by the obstruction. Eating or taking antacids may temporarily relieve the pain of ulcers of the stomach or duodenum because both food and antacids neutralize (counter) the acid that is responsible for irritating the ulcers and causing the pain.

Read about beauty tips, makeup tips, eye makeup tips . Read about home remedies and beauty tips, makeup tips, skin care tips

Bloating is a major problem for many people today. It is a condition whereby the stomach becomes inflated by excessive gas content. It can be a very uncomfortable condition and affect your ability to enjoy life. Here, you will find out how to get rid of bloating. Bloating can make you feel weak, tired, lethergic and unmotivated. If you have been struggling with this health condition for some time, chances are you’ve tried everything to put an end to this ailment, but you’re still struggling. This is because the root cause of the problem was never eliminated.

There is a wide variety of products that are used for getting rid of bloating. This health problem is so common that the number of companies offering bloating remedies is simply amazing. Most medications out there only suppress the symptoms and do nothing to eliminate the real cause of bloating. If the  reason for the bloating still exists then the bloating will return. This is because the core problem wasn’t addressed. So suppressing the symptom will not make your problem go away.

Bloating can make you feel weak, tired, lethergic and unmotivated. If you have been struggling with this health condition for some time, chances are you’ve tried everything to put an end to this ailment, but you’re still struggling. This is because the root cause of the problem was never eliminated. If you suffer from this health problem, it is important to seek help. This disorder can be eliminated by getting rid of the cause.

There are many reasons why this happens, and most of them have to do with how we eat. We make poor food choices, try new fad diets, eat on the run, chow down on sugary energy bars, overeat or skip meals altogether. Then we expect our digestive system to take care of it all. When we were kids, it probably did work that way. But as we age, our system produces less of the digestive acids that break down food and can’t handle the resulting imbalance and overload. And so we get bloated.

Bloating is usually when the excess water in your body accumulates in areas of your body. Yours is in the stomach probably because the IBS puts a strain on that area and is making it vulnerable to the bloating. Cut down on the salt and drink more water. When you eat a lot of salt AND drink lots of water, you bloat because the salt is making you retain(hold in) the water. But when you cut down on the salt and drink more water, because you don’t have all of that salt in you holding on to the water, drinking water will actually pull the excess water out of you. Then the bloating will be gone.

Lay on the floor, stomach down and pull your knees under your stomach, raising your rear end. This really does help remove gas. Stay that way for as long as you can take it, but before your legs fall asleep! Go for a walk. Sometimes gas is caused by constipation. Walking will get things moving along, and the gas along with it. Laxatives. Try natural laxatives before over the counter meds. This will help remove constipation and its ugly side effects. Salad. Sometimes a nice large salad full of roughage is all you need to fix bloating and gas.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a particular type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water. The soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) contact with the contaminated water or soil.

Leptospirosis is a febrile disease (fever) caused by infection with the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. L. interrogans
is sometimes classified as a spirochete because it has a spiral shape. The disease can range from very mild and symptomless to a more serious, even life threatening form, that may be associated with kidney (renal) failure.

Symptoms of Leptospira infection occur within 7-12 days following exposure to the bacteria. Because the symptoms can be nonspecific, most people who have antibodies to Leptospira do not remember having had an illness. Eighty-five to 90% of the cases are not serious and clear up on their own. Symptoms of the first stage of leptospirosis last three to seven days and are: fever (100-105°F [37.8-40.6°C]), severe headache, muscle pain, stomach pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, back pain, joint pain, neck stiffness, and extreme exhaustion. Cough and body rash sometimes occur.

Many different bacteria make biofilms, which protect them against harsh conditions and make them more resistant to antibiotics. They do this by producing a slime, in which the colony can grow unharmed. “90% of the species of Leptospira we tested could form biofilms. It takes L. interrogans an average of 20 days to make a biofilm,” said Professor Picardeau.

Ten percent of the persons infected with Leptospira
develop a serious disease called Weil’s syndrome. The symptoms of Weil’s syndrome are more severe than those described above and there is no distinction between the first and second stages of disease. The hallmark of Weil’s syndrome is liver, kidney, and blood vessel disease. The signs of severe disease are apparent after three to seven days of illness. In addition to those listed above, symptoms of Weil’s syndrome include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), decreased or no urine output, hypotension (low blood pressure), rash, anemia (decreased number of red blood cells), shock, and severe mental status changes.

Treatment and its delay after the beginning of symptoms did not interfere in mortality. Treatment was similar in all patients, the only difference being the use of vasoactive drugs, more frequent in non-survivors, because of their higher cardiovascular instability. The delay between initial symptoms and the initiation of therapy also did not differ between survivors and non-survivors.

Leptospirosis (also known as Weil’s disease, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever and many more[1]) is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It was first described by Adolf Weil in 1886 when he reported an “acute infectious disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice and nephritis”. Leptospira was first observed in 1907 from a post mortem renal tissue slice.

It is a disease is caused by spiral shaped bacteria called leptospires. It occurs worldwide and can affect humans as well as many wild and domestic animals, including dogs and cats. The disease can be serious for both humans and animals. In people, the symptoms are often like the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lung, and heart.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis symptoms begin from two to 25 days after initial direct exposure to the urine or tissue of an infected animal. This can even occur via contaminated soil or water. Veterinarians, pet shop owners, sewage workers, and farm employees are at particularly high risk. People participating in outdoor sporting activities like canoeing, rafting, hiking, and camping can also come into contact with contaminated water or soil.

The fever clears for a few days, marking the beginning of the second phase. During this phase, the body’s immune reaction against the bacteria causes inflammation, producing many symptoms. The fever returns, and there is often inflammation of the tissues covering the brain (meningitis), causing a stiff neck, headache, and sometimes stupor and coma. In the severe form of the infection, people may also have inflammation of the liver, kidneys, and lungs, resulting in jaundice, kidney failure, and bloody cough.

Most infected persons have a mild to moderate illness that is like many other tropical diseases. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, nausea and vomiting, eye inflammation, and muscle aches. In more severe cases, the illness can result in liver damage and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), kidney failure, and internal bleeding. People who are seriously ill with leptospirosis often need to be hospitalized. 

Causes of Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is caused by a spirochaete bacterium called Leptospira spp. that has at 5 different serovars of importance in the United States causing disease (icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona, grippotyphosa, and bratislava). There are other (less common) infectious strains. It should however be noted that genetically different leptospira organisms may be identical serologically and vice versa. Hence, an argument exists on the basis of strain identification.

Leptospirosis may be caused by a particular type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis may be caused by exposure to the bacteria, which can be found in fresh water contaminated by animal urine. It occurs in warmer climates. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by rats as well as by skunks, opossums, raccoons,foxes, and other vermin. The disease is becoming a greater risk as more people travel to undeveloped areas of the world.

In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.

Leishmaniasis is caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Humans are infected via the bite of phlebotomine sandflies, which breed in forest areas, caves, or the burrows of small rodents. In cutaneous forms, skin ulcers usually form on exposed areas, such as the face, arms and legs. These usually heal within a few months, leaving scars. Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis produces disseminated and chronic skin lesions resembling those of lepromatous leprosy. It is difficult to treat.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease occurring throughout the Americas from Texas to Argentina, and in the Old World, particularly the Middle East and North Africa. It is spread by the female sandfly. The condition is diagnosed every year in travelers, immigrants, and military personnel. Physicians in the United States must be alert to the diagnosis of leishmaniasis in travelers returning from endemic areas. Physicians working for short periods in endemic areas often must make the diagnosis and should be aware of local disease patterns.

Leishmaniasis (LEASH-ma-NIGH-a-sis) is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common forms are cutaneous (cue-TAY-knee-us) leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral (VIS-er-al) leishmaniasis, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (for example, spleen, liver, bone marrow).

Causes

Infections and fever due to bacterial infections are well-knowncomplications of liver cirrhosis, and often trigger decompensation and death.¹ Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a protozoan infection endemic in the Mediterranean area, causes a febrile disease, the clinical and laboratory features (splenomegaly, pancytopenia, reduced serum albumin and increased -globulin concentrations) of which largely overlap with those of cirrhosis.^2,3 Although the areas where VL is endemic coincide with areas where the prevalence of cirrhosis is high, no study has described VL in patients with cirrhosis.

It invariably causes death if left untreated. Leishmaniasis is, however, not always fatal. There are two other major forms: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). CL produces skin lesions, both chronic and self-healing. MCL tends to invade the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, destroying the soft mucocutaneous tissue of the nose and mouth, thus resulting in gross mutilation and disfiguration. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of leishmaniasis are skin sores which erupt weeks to months after the person affected is bitten by sand flies. Other consequences, which can become manifest anywhere from a few months to years after infection, include fever, damage to the spleen and liver, and anaemia.

Symptoms include fever, weight loss, anemia (low red blood cell count). There is always a large danger of bacteria infecting the already open sores. 

People who have leishmaniasis have one or more sores on their skin. The sores can change in size and appearance over time. They often end up looking somewhat like a volcano, with a raised edge and central crater. Some sores are covered by a scab.

Treatment 

For the treatment of Leishmaniasis the currently used drugs are limited to four. The first line compounds are the two pentavalent antimonials, sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) and meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime). They have been used for the first time in 1947 and 1950, respectively. These drugs are administered parenterally at a dosage of 10-20 mg and respectively 28 Sb/kg per day for 10 to 30 days. Failures and relapses occur in all forms of leishmaniasis and constitute approximately 10-25% of cases.

Lactose intolerance, also called lactase deficiency, means you aren’t able to fully digest the milk sugar (lactose) in dairy products. It’s not usually dangerous, but symptoms of lactose intolerance can be uncomfortable enough to steer you clear of the dairy aisles.  The problem behind lactose intolerance is a deficiency of lactase — an enzyme produced by the lining of your small intestine. Some people who think they are lactose intolerant actually don’t have impaired lactose digestion. And not everyone with low levels of lactase is lactose intolerant. Only people with low lactase levels and symptoms are considered to have lactose intolerance.

Symptoms

People who do not have enough lactase to digest the amount of lactose they consume may feel very uncomfortable when they digest milk products. Common symptoms, which range from mild to severe, include nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Symptoms begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. The severity of symptoms depends on many factors, including the amount of lactose a person can tolerate and a person’s age, ethnicity, and digestion rate.

Teens with the most severe symptoms of lactose intolerance may have to avoid all dairy products. It’s extra important that these teens find other good calcium sources, so talking to a registered dietitian is a good idea. Dietitians are trained in nutrition and they can help people who are lactose intolerant come up with eating alternatives and develop a well-balanced diet that provides lots of calcium for developing strong bones.

Causes

Lactose is a larger sugar that is made up of two smaller sugars, glucose and galactose. In order for lactose to be absorbed from the intestine and into the body, it must first be split into glucose and galactose. The glucose and galactose then are absorbed by the cells lining the small intestine. The enzyme that splits lactose into glucose and galactose is called lactase, and it is located on the surface of the cells that line the small intestine.

It’s possible for babies to be born with lactose intolerance. This rare disorder is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal recessive. This means that both the mother and the father must pass on the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected. Infants with congenital lactose intolerance are intolerant of the lactose in their mothers’ breast milk and have diarrhea from birth.

Sometimes the small intestine stops making lactase after a short-term illness such as the stomach flu, or as part of a lifelong disease such as cystic fibrosis, or after surgery to remove a part of the small intestine. In these cases, the problem can be either permanent or temporary.

Treatment

Foods with the highest concentration of lactose by far are milk and icecream, while cheeses and yoghurts generally contain much lower quantities. Most patients find that they can tolerate low levels of lactose in their diet, up to 250ml of milk, which may be enough to maintain calcium intake, however if there is any doubt, calcium supplementation should be considered.  Lactose in milk can be predigested by the addition of a commercially available enzyme substitute, which is refrigerated overnight and leads to digestion of virtually 100% of the lactose.