Just another iHealthSpot WP02 site

Due to a recent recall on Magnesium Citrate, please do not use any colonoscopy preparations that include this product in the instructions. If your instructions suggest using magnesium citrate, please contact our office for further instructions.

North Shore Gastroenterology
  •  
    (440) 808-1212

  • Patient Portal 

  • Online Bill Pay 

  • Request an Appointment 

MENUMENU
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Team
    • Physicians
      • Mousab Tabbaa, MD
      • Iqbal Ahmed, MD, FACG
      • Rinjal Brahmbhatt, MD
      • James Harris, MD, FACG
      • Kimberly Harris, MD
      • Preeti Jhawar, DO
      • Mohamed S. Naem, MD
      • Michael Springer, MD
      • Robert Straub, MD
      • J. Owen Tully, MD
    • Advanced Practitioners
  • Conditions We Treat
  • Procedures
    • Colonoscopy
    • Colon Cancer Screening
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
    • Breath Test
    • Barrx™ (Treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus)
    • Bravo™ (Treatment for Reflux)
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Anorectal Manometry
    • Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy
    • Dilation of Esophageal Strictures
    • Small-Bowel Capsule Endoscopy (PillCam™)
    • In-Office Procedures
    • Infusion Services
    • Advanced Endoscopic Procedures in Hospital
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Pre-Op Instructions
    • Post-Op Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Useful Links
  • Blog
  • Contact & Locations
    • Westlake, Ohio
    • Brooklyn, Ohio

How to Prepare For Lactose Intolerance Testing

November 18, 2022

in Lactose intolerance
November 18, 2022
Tagged With: digestive health, gastroenterologist near me, Gastroenterologist Westlake OH, Gastroenterologists in Brooklyn, Lactose intolerance, Lactose Intolerance Testing, Lactose intolerance treatment near me, North Shore Gastroenterology

Gas.Bloating.Diarrhea. Cramps. If you regularly experience these symptoms after consuming dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. One of the easiest ways to confirm this is with lactose intolerance testing at your GI doctor’s office. The test is relatively easy, and here’s how you prepare for it.

Why Should I Get Lactose Intolerance Testing?

Lactose intolerance testing with your gastroenterologist is a simple and effective way to determine if you lack a certain digestive enzyme. The enzyme in question is lactase, and it breaks down the sugar called lactose. Lactose is a key component of dairy products, such as milk, ice cream, cheese, and more.

When someone’s digestive system, or gut, cannot properly process lactose, typically it is due to insufficient lactase production. Lactase is naturally produced within the gut and is used to break down lactose-containing foods.

Lactose intolerance can develop at any time throughout your life – although adults in or approaching mid-life seem more susceptible to it. The signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, excessive flatulence, diarrhea, as well as some degree of intestinal cramping. These symptoms usually begin within a couple of hours of consuming dairy products.

Unfortunately, people with insufficient lactase may begin avoiding foods that contain dairy and may experience malnutrition as a result. Plus, avoiding certain foods can adversely affect bone health – which is especially important in middle age – and may increase the risk of osteoporosis.

How to Prepare for Lactose Intolerance Testing

Your GI specialist may recommend a hydrogen breath test, which can determine whether you are lactose intolerant.

This simple test measures the level of hydrogen gas (H02) in your breath. There is typically not much H02 in exhaled breath. High levels of it may indicate a problem in your gut – specifically, that you are not effectively digesting lactose-containing foods.

To prepare for the hydrogen breath test, you will be asked to avoid chewing gum, eating high-fiber foods, or using mouthwash for a full 24 hours before your in-office GI appointment. Your doctor will also require a period of fasting, from 8 to 12 hours prior to your arrival at the GI clinic.

At the clinic, you will breathe into a special machine to provide a baseline measure of H02 in your breath. Then, you will consume a sugar solution containing lactose. After that, you will periodically provide a breath sample every 15-30 minutes over the next 2-3 hours. You may be asked to record any symptoms you experience during the test.

Testing for Lactose Intolerance in Brooklyn and Westlake, OH

GI symptoms like excessive flatulence and diarrhea are no fun. Once you know for sure that the cause of your symptoms is lactose intolerance, there are a variety of things you can do to reduce or eliminate these symptoms. Knowledge is power. Ask about lactose intolerance testing and find out whether you have this common GI condition – and what your doctor recommends to treat it.

Lactose intolerance is one of many GI conditions the board-certified gastroenterologists and GI providers at NorthShore Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Centers regularly assess, diagnose, and treat. We work out of two state-of-the-art locations, in Westlake and Brooklyn, Ohio. We are proud to be affiliated with Cleveland Clinic.

To learn more about the hydrogen breath test or other diagnostic GI services we offer, please contact us at (440) 808-1212, or request a visit online. We are honored to assist you in enjoying the best digestive health possible.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Celiac Disease
  • cirrhosis
  • Colon Cancer
  • Colonoscopy
  • Constipation
  • Crohn's Disease
  • digestive health
  • Gastroenterology
  • General
  • GI
  • GI Doctor
  • Heartburn
  • IBS
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Lactose intolerance
November 2022
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Oct   Dec »

Tags

best gi specialist near me bloating Colon Cancer Colon Cancer Diagnsosis Cleveland OH Colon Cancer Prevention colon cancer screening Colon Cancer Screening Brooklyn OH Colon Cancer Screening Cleveland OH Colon Cancer Screening near me colon cancer screening Westlake OH Colon Cancer Symptoms colonoscopy near me Constipation Crohn's Disease digestive disorders digestive health gastroenterologist gastroenterologist Brooklyn OH gastroenterologist near me Gastroenterologists in Brooklyn Gastroenterologists in Westlake gastroenterologists near me Gastroenterologist Westlake OH gastroesophageal reflux disease GI gi doctor near me GI doctors Brooklyn OH gi doctor Westlake OH gi specialist near me IBS IBS treatment near me Indigestion Lactose intolerance Lactose Intolerance Diagnosis Lactose Intolerance Doctors Cleveland OH Lactose Intolerance Symptoms Lactose Intolerance Test in Brooklyn Lactose Intolerance Testing lactose intolerance testing Brooklyn OH lactose intolerance testing near me lactose intolerance testing Westlake OH Lactose Intolerance treatment Lactose intolerance treatment near me North Shore Gastroenterology stomach ache

Footer

  • Blog

    Discover the latest information on medical breakthroughs in the field of gastroenterology, as well as updates related to our practice at North Shore Gastroenterology’s exclusive online blog.

      LEARN MORE
  • Patient Education

    Everything you need to know about many of the gastrointestinal conditions we treat at North Shore Gastroenterology is at the tip of your fingers with our convenient patient education library.

      LEARN MORE
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Conditions We Treat
  • Contact & Locations
  • Meet Our Team
  • Patient Resources
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

© Copyright ·North Shore Gastroenterology· All Rights Reserved

  • Westlake Office & Endoscopy Center
    850 Columbia Road, Suite 200
    Westlake, OH 44145
    Phone: (440) 808-1212
  • Ridge Park Office & Endoscopy Center
    7580 Northcliff Avenue, Suite 1000
    Brooklyn, OH 44144
    Phone: (440) 808-1212

 

At North Shore Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Centers, our compassionate doctors provide a variety of services including Colonoscopy, Colon Cancer Screening, Upper Endoscopy (EGD), Breath Test, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Anorectal Manometry, Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, Dilation of Esophageal Strictures, Infusion Services, and Advanced Endoscopic Procedures in Hospital.

  • Home
  • Request an Appointment
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Team
    • Physicians
      • Mousab Tabbaa, MD
      • Iqbal Ahmed, MD, FACG
      • Rinjal Brahmbhatt, MD
      • James Harris, MD, FACG
      • Kimberly Harris, MD
      • Preeti Jhawar, DO
      • Mohamed S. Naem, MD
      • Michael Springer, MD
      • Robert Straub, MD
      • J. Owen Tully, MD
      • Back
    • Advanced Practitioners
    • Back
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Pre-Op Instructions
    • Post-Op Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Useful Links
    • Back
  • Conditions We Treat
  • Procedures
    • Colonoscopy
    • Colon Cancer Screening
    • Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
    • Breath Test
    • Barrx™ (Treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus)
    • Bravo™ (Treatment for Reflux)
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Anorectal Manometry
    • Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy
    • Dilation of Esophageal Strictures
    • Small-Bowel Capsule Endoscopy (PillCam™)
    • In-Office Procedures
    • Infusion Services
    • Advanced Endoscopic Procedures in Hospital
    • Back
  • Blog
  • Contact & Locations
    • Westlake, Ohio
    • Brooklyn, Ohio
    • Back