• TheAmishMan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is the real difference.

    One is an allergy hypersensitivity that triggers the release of histamine that (in this scenario) closes the throat and causes the person to die.

    The other is a lack of an enzyme in the stomach to break down a specific component, so instead bacteria break it down. When they break it down, gas is released, which causes the stomach to be irritated.

    So one is your throat literally trying to kill you, vs your stomach being irritated (possibly very bad). Not downplaying lactose intolerance, but its not the same as a type 1 hypersensitivity

    Edit - as pointed out, most the stuff for lactose intolerance happens in the intestines not the stomach

    • Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      Small correction: the stomach does not break down lactose, it’s in the small intestine where lactase breaks it down into glucose and galactose which are then absorbed. The irritation that occurs in lactose intolerant people is an irritation of the colon due to the gaseous bloat allowing more liquid to enter, the stomach is unaffected by all of this.

      • TheAmishMan@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yep sorry for the oversight. Was using stomach moreso just referring to the digestive process, but you are certainly correct