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Lactose Tolerance Test Center - Mission, TX

Mission Gastroenterologist Doctors for Lactose Tolerance Test

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Mission *

Ralph Alhalel MD
Ralph Alhalel
900 Plaza Dr
STE 4A
Mission, TX 78572
(956) 661-9300

Ralph Alhalel MD
Brick E Alva
900 Plaza Dr
STE 4A
Mission, TX 78572
(956) 661-9300

K Vijaya Chowdary MD
K Vijaya Chowdary
301 Lindberg Ave
Mcallen, TX 78501
(956) 630-2979

Fatih Ozcelebi MD
Fatih Ozcelebi
1900 S Jackson Rd
STE E11
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956) 661-1333

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Oscar Alvarez
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Rafael Amaro
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Sabrahmanya Behara
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Carlos J Cardenas
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Ingrid Chacon
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

Mid Valley Gastroenterology
S Murthy Badiga
902 S Airport
STE 6
Weslaco, TX 78596
(956) 973-2446

Oral C James MD
Oral C James
1806 Runnels Ave
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 423-9000

Roberto Ponce MD
Roberto Ponce
5700 N express way
brownsville, TX 78526

Mission, Texas

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Lactose Tolerance Test

What is the lactose tolerance test?

The lactose tolerance test is a test for diagnosing an intolerance of ingested lactose. Lactose intolerance is a genetic condition in which individuals are unable to digest and absorb the lactose sugar in cow's milk.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar in milk, lactose. Milk is an important source of nutrition for children and even some adults. With normal lactose tolerance, all of the lactose is broken down (digested) in the intestine by an enzyme into two smaller sugars (galactose and glucose) which then are absorbed into the body. As a result, normally no lactose reaches the colon.

On the other hand, in individuals with lactose intolerance who lack the intestinal enzyme that breaks down the lactose, the ingested lactose is neither digested nor absorbed in the small intestine and reaches the colon where it is used by the bacteria in the colon. The bacteria produce chemicals that cause diarrhea, and also produce gas. Abdominal pain also may occur.

How is the lactose tolerance test done?

The lactose tolerance test requires an individual to drink a liquid that contains lactose. In the small intestine among lactose tolerant individuals, the ingested lactose is split into galactose and glucose which then are absorbed from the intestine and go into the blood. Several blood samples are taken over a two hour period following the ingestion of the lactose to measure the blood glucose level. If lactose tolerance is normal, the glucose level in the blood rises due to the absorption of glucose from the intestine. If there is lactose intolerance, the glucose level does not rise.

What other tests can detect lactose intolerance?

Other tests used to detect lactose intolerance include the lactose hydrogen breath test and stool acidity te...

Recommended Reading Related to Lactose Tolerance Test

Colonoscopy »

What is colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables an examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to evaluate the inside of the colon (large intestine or large bowel). The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of light at its tip. The tip of the colonoscope is inserted into the anus and then is advanced slowly, under visual control, into the rectum and through the colon usually as far as the cecum, which is the first part of the colon.

Why is colonoscopy done?

Colonoscopy may be done for a variety of reasons. Most often it is done to investigate the cause of blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a change in bowel habit, or an abnormality found on colonic X-rays or a computerized axial tomography (CT) scan. Individuals with a previous history of polyps or colon cancer and certain individuals with a family history of some types of non-colonic canc...

Emergency Contact for Mission

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Mission Hospitals *

Mission Regional Medical Center
900 South Bryan Rd
Mission, TX 78572
(956)580-9000

McAllen Medical Center
301 W Expressway 83
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956)632-4000

LifeCare Hospitals of South Texas McAllen Campus South
2001 South M St
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956)688-4300

Rio Grande Regional Hospital
101 E Ridge Rd
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956)632-6000

McAllen Heart Hospital
1900 South D St
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956)994-2401

LifeCare Hospitals of South Texas McAllen Campus North
5101 N Jackson Rd
Mcallen, TX 78504
(956)926-7000

Edinburg Regional Medical Center
1102 W Trenton Rd
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956)388-6000

Doctors Hospital At Renaissance
5501 S McColl Rd
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956)661-7100

Cornerstone Regional Hospital
2302 Cornerstone Blvd
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956)618-4444

Knapp Medical Center
1401 E 8th St
Weslaco, TX 78596
(956)968-8567

Starr County Memorial Hospital
2573 Hospital Ct
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
(956)487-5561

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