Consumption of lactose in the context of alactasia (lactose intolerance) is likely to cause digestive discomfort, with symptoms ranging from flatulence and constipation to bloating and diarrhoea. More generally, intestinal gas and the absence of stools are common to many people, for a number of reasons.
Do you currently have a lot of gas, but no stools? Lactolérance can help you understand this more or less uncomfortable and disabling dysfunction of the digestive system.
Intestinal gas and absence of stools: what causes this?
Before looking at the causes of flatulence and constipation, we need to understand these two phenomena, which are directly linked to the gastrointestinal system.
- Often taboo because they lend themselves to a smile or are embarrassing in a social context, gas or 'farts' or 'flatulence' should not be taken lightly when it is produced in excess in the intestines and becomes painful. For information, an individual with no intestinal problems produces between 13 and 21 gases a day.
Generally speaking, gas is the result of digestion by bacteria in the intestines. These bacteria ferment ingested food, breaking it down and degrading it. As a result, the anus produces gas, which is usually odourless. Bad smells can be explained by the presence of sulphur or organosulphur compounds in food, found for example in garlic, onions, crucifers (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, etc.) or oilseeds (cashew nuts, pecans, etc.).
- The absence of stools becomes constipation when the frequency of evacuation is low or when there are difficulties in evacuating faecal matter. In concrete terms, this intestinal disorder manifests itself when stools are passed less than 3 times a week, when they are abnormally hard 1 time out of 4 or more and/or when evacuation difficulties are accompanied by pushing efforts in at least 25% of cases.
A distinction is actually made between occasional constipation and chronic constipation. In the first case, the absence of stools and the difficulty in evacuating last a few days or a few weeks. In the second case, they last for 6 months or more.
Intestinal gas and the absence of stools can have a number of causes. Flatulence is mainly linked to diet, and its excessive production is often justified by the consumption of foods such as those mentioned above. Lactose or gluten intolerance and certain digestive infections can also be responsible for excessive farting. As for constipation, it reflects the sensitivity of intestinal transit to external factors. New or poor eating habits, stress or even pregnancy can all lead to problems with bowel movements. With age, there is also an increasing slowing down of the digestive system, which goes hand in hand with the production of intestinal gas and the absence of bowel movements.
So what is the link between flatulence and flatulence?
Does constipation cause gas?
In most cases, the absence of stools and the difficulty in evacuating them lead to farting and bloating, which in turn can cause varying degrees of abdominal pain.
In concrete terms, the accumulation of faeces in the large intestine accentuates the fermentation process, which itself explains the production of gas. For pregnant women, the end of pregnancy is also a particularly propitious time for excessive gas production: the pressure exerted by the uterus on the intestines and frequent constipation lead to excessive production of flatulence.
What illnesses and diseases cause a lot of gas?
As already mentioned, lactose intolerance can lead to flatulence. Other health problems and illnesses are also responsible for excessive intestinal gas:
- Aerocolia is the excessive presence of gas in the colon. Constipation, antibiotics or certain medical conditions can lead to aerocolia.
- Triggered by the absorption of gluten, coeliac disease is a chronic pathology of the small intestine. It manifests itself through farting, bloating, abdominal pain, etc.
- Gastrointestinal infections, gastro-oesophageal reflux, food poisoning and even appendicitis lead to abnormal gas production.
- Finally, irritable bowel syndrome causes severe abdominal pain and episodes of diarrhoea and/or constipation. Although it is generally accompanied by normal amounts of intestinal gas, it must be named so as not to be confused with lactose intolerance, coeliac disease or Crohn's disease, whose digestive disorders can be similar.
Intestinal gas and absence of stools: what are the solutions?
If you notice that you've had a lot of gas but no stools for several days, don't hesitate to consult your GP or any health professional able to make a clear diagnosis of the dysfunction in your gastrointestinal system. In the case of chronic aerocolia in particular, consult a gastroenterologist to detect any underlying diseases or pathologies, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or lactose intolerance.
If you find it difficult to go to the toilet and you suffer from excessive flatulence, a few dietary changes can help you to improve your digestive comfort. Eat a diet rich in fibre, a nutrient found in cereals, fruit and vegetables, to help combat constipation. You should also drink 1.5 litres of water a day (or more, depending on your level of physical activity and sport, the weather, etc.) to improve your intestinal transit on a daily basis. On the other hand, limit your consumption of beer and fizzy drinks, fatty foods, sugar substitutes (fructose, sorbitol, etc.) and chewing gum as much as possible, and drink preferably outside mealtimes.
If your farts and lack of stools are the result of lactose or gluten intolerance, then a change of diet is called for. Eliminate some or all of the foods containing lactose or gluten, depending on the severity of your food intolerance. In the case of alactasia, discover lactase supplementation and (re)integrate lactose-rich foods into your diet with complete peace of mind. Lactolerance 4500, 9000 and 1Day allows you to consume lactose without suffering the undesirable effects of your intolerance, starting with flatulence and constipation.
Hello, I'm Vincent 😄
Like you, I'm lactose intolerantI know exactly what you're going through and the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis. For over 10 years, I've been helping our customers to use our dietary supplements and giving advice and tips on how to improve their digestive comfort. I'm also a keen cook and gourmet, so you'll find my favourite recipes for a lactose-free diet in this blog.
Lactose intolerance is not inevitable! With Lactolerance you can digest with complete peace of mind 😉
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