Lactose Intolerance: Am I lactose intolerant?

I'm 56 and in very good health. My eating habits are normal, but I get bloated frequently. Can you give me some information on what may cause this and how to prevent it?

My first thought goes to the possibility of lactose intolerance (the diminished ability to properly breakdown lactose in the intestinal tract). Lactose intolerance can occur when people age and may also occur in many ethnic groups. Side effects of being lactose intolerant include increased bloating, gas, and often diarrhea soon after consuming lactose-containing foods such as milk and, to a lesser extent, other dairy products like ice cream, cheese, and yogurt.

The amount of lactose you consume at one time may also be a trigger. For example, a small amount of cheese or yogurt may be tolerated, but a large glass of milk may cause lots of bloating. Lactose intolerance results when there is not enough of the enzyme lactase to breakdown the carbohydrate lactose. The enzyme, lactase, is available over the counter and can be used right before consuming dairy products. Lactose-free milk is also another option.

If your eating habits have been normal and you have not changed your diet recently (like eating more raw vegetables or eating more beans lately), then my second thought goes to seeing your physician. He or she may ask you to track your symptom of bloating along with any other symptoms including increased abdominal size, pelvic or abdominal pain/pressure, change in bowel/bladder habits, eating difficulties or becoming full too quickly, to rule out any gynecological or other health condition. A review of your current medications and their side effects might also be helpful.