It is reported that as many as 50 million American children and adults suffer from lactose intolerance. It is such a common digestive disorder that 75% of African-Americans and Native Americans are lactose intolerant, as are 90% of Asian Americans.

Lactose intolerance is where digestive diseases or injury to the small intestine render the body unable to digest lactase, which is a sugar in milk products.

Amongst the symptoms that the individual with lactose intolerance may have are bloating, cramping, gas, diarrhea, and also nausea. The extent to which the symptoms are felt depends on how much milk products have been consumed.

Testing For Lactose Intolerance

A doctor may diagnose lactose intolerance by performing diagnostic tests on an outpatient basis. These tests are usually performed at a hospital laboratory, in a clinic, or at the doctor’s office.

Tests:

Lactose tolerance test – this is when the absorption of lactose is measured. The patient has to fast before the test and then drink a liquid that contains lactose. Several blood tests are taken over a two hour period of time. The glucose (blood sugar) level is measured. This test measures how well the person’s body digests lactose.

The hydrogen breath test is when the patient drinks a lactose heavy drink, and the patient’s breath is then analyzed at regular intervals in order to measure the hydrogen in the breath. Bacteria ferment undigested lactose in the colon, which then results in gases being produced including hydrogen. High levels of hydrogen in the breath are an indication of lactose not being properly digested by the system.

Once diagnosed, the doctor will discuss treatment with the patient. The treatment should improve the body’s ability to handle lactose by proper diet or by adding lactase enzymes to the diet. Children should be under the care of a doctor because of the vital need for milk products for healthy growth.

Sometimes lactose is found in unlikely foods because it is added to prepared foods such as bread and other baked goods, instant potatoes, processed breakfast cereals, soups, breakfast drinks, margarine, lunch meats (not kosher ones), salad dressings, candies and other snack items, and mixes such as those for pancakes, biscuits and cookies.

You also have to be very careful about non-dairy products such as coffee creamer and whipped toppings because they could be made with ingredients that are derived from milk, and can therefore also contain lactose.

Labels can be deceptive as they may not say “milk” but still contain milk products, so always be sure to carefully read labels when buying products and look for the following words:

Curds

Dry milk solids

Milk by-products

Nonfat dry milk powder

Whey

People who are lactose intolerant can receive the calcium that their bodies need by eating non-dairy foods such as green vegetables, fish such as salmon and sardines that have soft bones , and also yogurt, which is an excellent way to receive calcium. Yogurt has active cultures that actually produce some of the lactase enzymes required for proper digestion.

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Colorectal cancer is a digestive disorder that is found in the cells of the colon and rectum (large intestine). As it is possible for cancerous tumors that are found in the colon and rectum to spread to other parts of the body, it is vitally important to catch colorectal cancer early. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA, however thanks to advanced screening procedures and polyp removal the number of new cases of colorectal cancer is decreasing.

Symptoms to look for include:

Bowel habit changes from what you normally experience

Bleeding from the rectum or seeing blood in your stools.

Cramping or a gnawing stomach pain

Vomiting

Weakness or fatigue

Jaundice (yellowish coloring to your skin or sclera of the eye)

The symptoms of this type of cancer can mimic other less serious conditions and diseases such as infections, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease. Catching colorectal cancer early means there is a very good chance for a cure. An individual may not experience any symptoms and still have colorectal cancer.

Risk Factors

Colorectal cancer can affect people of any age, but the majority of people who have colorectal cancer are over the age of 50.

Those who eat diets which are high in fat and calories and low in fiber are more likely to contract this cancer.

Individuals who have polyps (benign growths) such as those in people over 50 are common leading symptoms for colorectal cancer.

Those people who have a family history of colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine or breast cancers all have a slightly increased risk compared with the population at large. Other people with an increased risk of this disease are those with ulcerative colitis.

Individuals who are at an increased risk for colorectal cancer should receive genetic testing, or early tests from the doctor’s office so that they can catch it early if possible.

Many colon cancers can be avoided by proper diet and exercise including:

Diet and exercise by eating more fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and by avoiding high-fat, low-fiber foods, plus by getting enough exercise.

Drug therapy using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ASA, estrogen replacement therapy for women who are post-menopausal can also reduce the risk for colorectal cancer.

Screenings can also help to prevent colorectal cancer at appropriate ages. Catching this cancer early is the single most important thing individuals can do if they are in the high-risk group.

Even people who do not have risk factors or symptoms of colorectal disease should still receive screenings such as digital rectal examination, signoidoscopy, colonoscopy and also the barium enema with air contrast.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer the treatment you receive will depend on your age, your overall health at the time, the extent of the disease, your tolerance for medications, what the doctor suspects will be the expectation for the course of the disease, and of course your own input and preferences. Treatment also depends on the stage of the cancer tumor, if it has spread and how far it has spread by the time it is caught.

Amongst the treatments your doctor may suggest are colon surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

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