Lactose intolerance blood stool

Food and bloody stools: Link and causes

In some people, certain foods may irritate the lining of the intestines, which can lead to bloody stools. In other cases, bloody stools can result from an underlying health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Certain foods, such as beetroot, can also cause stools to appear red, which is harmless. Certain medications, food poisoning, and food allergies may also lead to blood in the stools.

This article looks at whether or not foods can trigger bloody stools, some conditions that can cause blood in stools, and other reasons that stools may contain blood or appear red.

In some people, certain foods may irritate the lining of the intestines, leading to inflammation and bleeding. This may happen if a person has an allergy to a specific food or beverage, such as milk or dairy.

An existing medical condition, such as IBD, may cause irritation and inflammation in the intestines, and certain foods may trigger or worsen symptoms, such as bloody stools.

Some foods, such as beetroot, can lead to a person’s stools having a reddish hue. This can cause stools to appear as though there is blood in them.

Learn more about why beetroot turns urine and stools red here.

Having an allergy to milk can cause hives, stomach upset, and blood in stools — particularly in infants.

Trigger foods and beverages include anything containing milk, so a person may wish to avoid all dairy products and products containing milk proteins.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both types of IBD.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition of inflammation and ulcers in the intestines, which can cause blood in the stools. Crohn’s disease refers to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that can also lead to rectal bleeding.

Related foods

Some foods can worsen IBD symptoms, resulting in blood appearing in the stools.

Trigger foods for IBD symptoms may include:

• sources of hard-to-digest insoluble fiber, such as raw cruciferous vegetables, whole nuts, and whole grains
• lactose
• sugary foods
• fatty, greasy, or fried foods
• spicy foods
• alcohol and caffeine

A 2015 article notes that certain non-absorbable sugars — such as sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, and xylitol — can also trigger IBD symptoms.

Food poisoning occurs when a person contracts an infection after consuming contaminated foods.

Some common symptoms of food poisoning include:

• stomach cramps
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• fever

If a person experiences bloody diarrhea, they should contact a healthcare professional, as this is an indication of severe food poisoning.

Related foods

The following are some common causes of food poisoning:

• foods that are not cooked after a person has handled them, such as sandwiches and sliced meats
• raw or undercooked shellfish
• raw or undercooked ground beef
• poultry
• raw or undercooked chicken
• eggs
• unpasteurized milk
• raw fruits and vegetables
• unsafe water
• improperly canned food
• fermented foods that are typically homemade

Certain parasites can infect the intestines, leading to blood in the stools. Shigella bacteria can cause shigellosis, which is an infection that can cause bloody diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Related foods

Shigella can pass on through certain foods:

• if someone with shigellosis is preparing the food
• if foods are raw, as these are more likely to have Shigella bacteria
• if fruits and vegetables are grown in fields with human waste contamination

Some foods and beverages can make stools appear red or black, such as:

• beetroot
• artificial fruit juice
• blueberries
• licorice

It is also normal for stools to change color when a person is taking iron tablets or bismuth, which may darken stools.

Bloody stools can appear as different colors, depending on where in the GI tract the bleeding has come from.

For example, if a person has bleeding from the rectum or lower colon, they may see bright red blood coating the stools or mixed within stools.

If the blood is from higher up the GI tract, a person may have darker blood mixed into the stools, or the stools may appear black or tarry.

People may also have other symptoms alongside GI bleeding, such as bright red blood in the vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

A person may notice blood in their stools as a result of the following:

• Anal fissures: These are tears or open sores near the anus. A person may notice blood on the toilet paper when they wipe.
• Hemorrhoids: These are swollen veins around the anus, and they can result in blood in the stools. Severe constipation can lead to hemorrhoids. Following a high fiber diet and maintaining optimal hydration can help reduce the risk of developing constipation. People should aim to consume foods that are high in fiber if hemorrhoids appear due to chronic constipation. Some foods to limit or avoid include:
  • cheese
  • ice cream
  • fast food
  • chips
  • meat
  • processed foods
• Diverticulitis: This refers to the inflammation of pouches in the wall of the colon, and it can cause GI bleeding. Most people with diverticulitis do not need to avoid any particular foods. In the past, people thought that nuts, popcorn, and seeds could worsen the symptoms. However, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests that these are not harmful to people with diverticulitis. A diet high in red meat may increase the chance of developing diverticulitis.
• Colon polyps: Colon polyps are growths on the rectum or colon lining, and they can also cause GI bleeding. Foods that may increase the risk of colon polyps include fatty and fried foods, red meat, and processed meat.
• Cancer: Bowel, colon, or rectal cancer can cause blood to appear in stools. In the case of cancer, stools may appear dark brown or black.

Learn more about bloody stools and potential causes here.

It is important for a person to contact a doctor if they have blood in their stools. The bleeding may not be due to anything serious, but it is important that a doctor finds out the source and cause of the bleeding.

If a person thinks that a certain food or beverage is triggering their symptoms, it may be helpful to keep a food diary and track symptoms. This can help a doctor determine whether or not a type of food may be irritating the intestinal lining and causing bloody stools.

If a person is not sure whether their stools are appearing red or black due to food or another cause, it is best to contact a doctor for a checkup to find out the exact cause.

In the case of severe and sudden bleeding, a person needs medical help straight away. A person also needs emergency help if they go into shock, which can cause the following symptoms:

• a drop in blood pressure
• little or no urination
• a fast pulse
• unconsciousness

In some cases, having a food allergy or eating foods that carry harmful bacteria can irritate the lining of the intestines and may result in blood in the stools.

A number of medical conditions, including IBD and colon polyps, can affect the GI tract and cause bloody stools.

If a person has a condition that can cause blood in the stools, they may need to avoid certain foods and beverages that could aggravate the condition and worsen their symptoms or bleeding. People can discuss suitable nutrition plans with a healthcare professional.

Is It Crohn’s Disease or Lactose Intolerance?

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Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the intestine. If left untreated, it can cause serious illness or disability. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease are sometimes mistaken for those of lactose intolerance, a condition that’s less serious but much more common.

Lactose intolerance is caused by a person’s inability to produce enough, or any, of the enzyme lactase. This enzyme is typically found in the small intestine and digests lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Lactose intolerance, also known as lactase deficiency, causes digestive discomfort in people who are sensitive to lactose. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, and gas, some of the same symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease.

Since these two conditions share many of the same symptoms, it’s possible to think you have one when you really have the other. Complicating matters is the fact that people with Crohn’s disease are more likely to have lactose intolerance than the general population.

Cramping and persistent diarrhea usually accompany both Crohn’s disease and lactose intolerance. However, a person with Crohn’s may also find blood or mucus in the stool.

Other symptoms of Crohn’s that aren’t typically found in people with lactose intolerance are:

• a loss of appetite
• unintentional weight loss
• fever
• fatigue
• anemia

Crohn’s disease may go into remission for weeks or months at a time with few or no symptoms. A person with lactose intolerance will experience symptoms every time they consume dairy products.

There are multiple risk factors for Crohn’s disease. They include:

• smoking cigarettes
• family history of the disease
• eating a high-fat diet or one high in processed foods
• living in an urban area
• age
• ethnicity

Age

The Mayo Clinic states that Crohn’s disease is most likely to develop in people who are under 30 years old, although it can occur at any age.

Ethnicity

Crohn’s is more common in Jewish people of Eastern European, or Ashkenazi, descent than in non-Jewish Europeans. Overall, white people are more likely to have Crohn’s than Black people. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, Crohn’s disease rates are increasing among black people in North America and the United Kingdom.

Lactose intolerance occurs in almost all people of Asian and Native American descent. It’s common among individuals with South Indian, African, and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry as well.

In addition, some people begin to lose a portion of their lactase enzymes as they age. This makes them less able to digest foods containing lactose.

Severalstudies also indicate that lactose intolerance is more common in those with Crohn’s disease than in those without it. Despite these findings, a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop lactose intolerance.

It’s important to note that lactose intolerance isn’t a type of food allergy and it isn’t harmful, even for people with Crohn’s disease. However, it may add to a person’s discomfort.

Most people with lactose intolerance can digest at least some lactose, but how much depends on the amount of lactase in their bodies. For some, the lactase enzyme may be inducible. This means that if a person regularly exceeds the amount of lactose they can normally tolerate, their body may respond by increasing the amount of lactase it produces.

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in various areas of the digestive tract. Its symptoms can range from mild to severe. At the moment, there’s no cure for this condition. However, its symptoms can typically be managed effectively.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can include:

• abdominal pain and cramping
• diarrhea, which is often severe
• bloody stools
• weight loss
• diminished appetite
• malnutrition
• sores in the mouth
• fatigue
• rectal pain, also known as tenesmus

If Crohn’s is left untreated, additional symptoms may occur. These include:

• inflammation of the joints
• inflammation of the eyes and skin
• inflammation in the liver and bile ducts
• delayed puberty, or growth, in children

When a person without lactose intolerance eats lactose, the enzyme lactase breaks it down into a pair of simpler sugars. Both of these sugars, glucose and galactose, absorb quickly through the small intestine and release into the bloodstream.

However, if someone doesn’t have enough lactase, the small intestine can only digest a portion of the lactose. As the undigested lactose travels through the small intestine and into the colon, it draws in water through osmosis. This excess water is responsible for the cramps and diarrhea sometimes associated with lactose intolerance.

Other symptoms of the condition include:

• bloating
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• excessive flatulence, or gas

These symptoms occur during the fermentation process, which happens when bacteria in the colon work to break down lactose. As the bacteria act on the lactose, it turns into an acid, which then produces gas.

In addition to the other symptoms, the acid may also cause anal burning.

There’s no one specific test that can diagnose Crohn’s. Your doctor may perform a variety of tests in order to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.

Several tests are used to pinpoint the disease, and may include:

• Blood tests. Blood tests may be used to rule out underlying infections or anemia.
• Fecal occult blood test. This test is used to check for hidden blood in the stool.
• CT scan. A CT scan will allow your doctor to view the small intestine.
• MRI. An MRI will allow your doctor to look for fistulas, or openings, in the small intestine.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy. This procedure allows your doctor to view the food pipe, stomach, and small intestine with the help of a small camera. It can be done with or without biopsy.
• Colonoscopy. A colonoscopy may be performed to search for inflammatory cells known as granulomas. It can occur with or without biopsy.
• Balloon-assisted enteroscopy. An enteroscopy allows your doctor to look deeply into the small intestine. This test is often used to confirm a diagnosis.

The easiest way to diagnose lactose intolerance is to avoid dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream and see if the symptoms go away. If, after one week, you consume a glass of milk and the cramps and diarrhea return, it’s highly likely that you are lactose intolerant.

Another more objective way to test for lactose intolerance is to have a doctor order a lactose breath test. When lactose metabolizes in the colon as opposed to the small intestine like it should, the bacteria will release hydrogen into the bloodstream. This hydrogen can then be measured in the breath. People who are lactose intolerant will have higher amounts of hydrogen in their breath.

The treatments for Crohn’s disease center on reducing inflammation and eliminating complications that might arise over time. While there’s currently no cure for this condition, long-term remission is possible. The effectiveness of treatments can vary from person to person. Treatments include:

• anti-inflammatory medications
• immune system suppressors
• antibiotics
• anti-diarrheals
• a special diet administered via a feeding tube, also known as nutrition therapy or parenteral nutrition
• surgery

Lifestyle changes can also positively affect both quality of life and the effectiveness of medical treatments. The most important thing you can do is to stop smoking cigarettes or using any other form of nicotine or tobacco. Identifying your food triggers, such as dairy or fiber, will also help.

People with Crohn’s disease may also experience more symptoms of lactose intolerance when they consume high-fat dairy products as opposed to those that are lower in fat. Experimenting with eating different types of foods can help you identify your specific triggers.

Currently, there are only two ways to treat lactose intolerance. You can avoid dairy products completely, or you can consume additional lactase enzymes in the form of an over-the-counter supplement (OTC) such as Lactaid. Additionally, people who give up dairy may need to supplement their diets with vitamin D and calcium tablets. You can also supplement your diet with nondairy sources of both vitamin D and calcium.

Most vitamin D is acquired through sun exposure. Foods that naturally contain this nutrient include egg yolks and liver. Many other foods are also enriched with vitamin D, including milk and some breakfast cereals.

Nondairy sources of calcium include:

• seeds, such as poppy and chia
• sardines
• almonds
• lentils
• beans
• dark, leafy greens, such as spinach and kale

Shop for lactase enzymes such as Lactaid. Also shop for vitamin D supplements and calcium supplements.

Since they both affect the digestive tract, Crohn’s disease and lactose intolerance share many of the same symptoms. It’s important to pinpoint which condition you have, because Crohn’s disease is serious and can become dangerous if left untreated. Your doctor will be able to help you determine which condition is causing your symptoms. They can also help you decide on the most appropriate treatment.

Medical advice for doctors | Remedium.ru

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Lactose intolerance: causes, symptoms, analysis

Do you suffer from cramps and bloating? Do you hear a rumbling in your stomach? Periodically worried about loose stools? If these signs appear some time after taking milk and milk-containing products, lactose intolerance (hypolactasia) can be assumed. nine0413