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Fasting and Health During Ramadan SEASONAL FEATURE FASTING AND HEALTH DURING RAMADAN As the start of Ramadan nears, we look at the various health challenges that GPs need to consider in patients observing the annual Muslim fast. Dr Ahmad Fasting is an age-old practice that transcends a number mental health. As such, people with complex and Moolla of faiths and customs. It is observed by Muslims during particularly chronic illnesses are advised to seek Honorary Ramadan and parts of other months; by Jews on days medical advice and to consult their local Islamic Clinical including Yom Kippur; by Christians during Lent and scholar to help determine whether they may be Lecturer, on the fast of the Apostles; and by Hindus on a regular exempted from fasting. Elderly people, pregnant Imperial basis. This article will focus on the main Muslim fast women and breastfeeding mothers are also exempt. College London of Ramadan taking place over the summer months this Additionally, those who have jobs that require them to year in the UK (30 days from June 29). be in peak physical health, such as surgeons performing complex surgery or airline pilots, are given dispensation Dr Nadia What is Ramadan? to delay fasting until a time outside of Ramadan where Khalid Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, they can make up these fasts. GP Specialist in which Muslims observe daily fasts. Fasting is one of Despite these dispensations, patients with complex Trainee, North the "ve tenets of the Islamic faith, which also include medical conditions, and in particular those who West London the proclamation of faith in one God, giving regular do not feel physically unwell, will often choose to charity (zakat), performing the Hajj pilgrimage to fast, even if medical and scholarly advice permits Dr Tahseen Makkah and establishing regular prayer (salat). As exemption. This may be due to feelings of obligation, Chowdhury the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan social pressure or guilt, or simply due to spiritual Consultant occurs approximately 11 days earlier each year and need. Indeed, one epidemiological study showed that in Diabetes, thus the season in which it falls varies periodically. up to 79% of patients with type 2 diabetes chose to fast during Ramadan.1 Royal London What does the Ramadan Hospital fast involve? Muslims observe a complete fast from dawn to sunset Prof Aziz each day during the month. Neither food nor drink Sheikh Ramadan can be (including water) is permitted between these times. Harkness When, as in this year, Ramadan falls in the summer physically arduous, Fellow in months, the fast can therefore last up to 18 hours. particularly with Health Care Muslims also refrain from smoking and intimate Policy and relations, and exert a greater than usual effort to focus the longer duration Practice, on good manners, inner re#ection and charitable acts Division of to others. This striving to perfect ones character during of fasts seen in General Internal Ramadan is further re#ected in the fact that most of Northern Europe Medicine and the charitable donations given by Muslims over the Primary Care, year are donated during this month. Greater attention Brigham and is also paid to the "ve daily prayers and in addition, Women’s many Muslims will attend special congregational When consulting with patients seeking medical Hospital prayers at their local mosque that continue into the late advice on fasting during Ramadan, it is thus useful evening after the break of fast. As a result, Ramadan "rstly to explore the motivation for fasting (in those can be physically arduous, particularly with the longer planning on doing so) and to ask patients if they have duration of fasts seen in Northern Europe. sought the advice of a religious scholar. Advice should be targeted to support patients in appraising the Is fasting obligatory for bene"ts and risks, in order to make their own decisions all Muslims? on whether to fast. Fasting is an obligatory part of faith for all Muslims Where patients consequently make an informed who are "t and well. There is, however, clear decision to fast, further advice will be required to dispensation in Islam to exempt a person from fasting ensure that this is undertaken safely. Particular where it may adversely affect a person’s physical or challenges will be to set clear parameters for 22 | May/June 2014 | SEASONAL FEATURE suspending fasting if patients feel unwell and also to pillows may also be bene"cial. If required, medications manage medication regimens as oral medications are including antacids, ranitidine or proton-pump not permitted during fasting hours. inhibitors can be used. Meal patterns and dietary advice Headaches There is a very different meal routine during Ramadan. There are a number of reasons why headaches are a Those who fast typically eat two meals a day – the frequently reported ailment among those who fast, and Suhur (pre-dawn meal) that begins the fast prior to particularly during the "rst week of Ramadan. This sunrise (which may be as early as 03:30 in summer) is due to the body adapting to the pattern of fasting, and the Iftar (meal at sunset) that ends the fast, around and reasons include disturbed sleeping and working 21:00 during the summer. patterns, stress and dehydration. Patients should be advised to lighten their daily activities where this is practical. In particular, strenuous or physically demanding activities should be avoided. Patients with complex medical Where stressors are unavoidable, for example for those employed in physically demanding roles of high conditions, and in particular intensity, such as airline pilots as mentioned, fasting can be postponed to alternative dates when they are not those who do not feel physically working. The importance of ensuring good hydration unwell, will often choose to fast, during non-fasting periods should be emphasised to all. Appropriate analgesia may be required, and in even if medical and scholarly severe cases fasting should be terminated to allow for advice permits exemption treatment to be taken. Constipation This is a commonly reported problem, and particularly so during the long summer fasts. A high Due to the long length of the fast, these meals may "bre diet should be recommended in addition to be very calori"c, and a substantial amount of food may ensuring adequate intake of #uid during non-fasting be eaten within a small period of time. Furthermore, hours. For example, eating a bran cereal will help to many Muslims in the UK are of South Asian origin and limit the effects of constipation. If required, a bulk- tradition in these cultures has tended to promote a diet forming laxative ("bre supplement) such as ispaghula rich in fat, sugar and carbohydrates – particularly so husk, methylcellulose or sterculia may be prescribed during Ramadan. to ease symptoms.3-4 Patients should be reminded of the importance of maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. 3 Excessive food consumption during non-fasting hours can be a problem, and patients should be reminded not to overeat. Foods high in complex carbohydrates such as Excessive food wholemeal bread, lentils, beans and rice will help to reduce feelings of hunger. Fruit and vegetables, along consumption during with natural yoghurt, are of course recommended as non-fasting hours can be essential components of a healthy diet. Additionally, the consumption of sugar-free drinks during non-fasting a problem, and patients hours should be promoted. should be reminded not Common complaints during to overeat Ramadan Indigestion Due to the intake of high calorie meals early in the Rheumatological complaints morning and late in the evening, indigestion is a Common symptoms such as aches and pains continue common problem among those who fast – particularly to cause problems during Ramadan and may be so after the pre-dawn meal – and may disrupt usual exacerbated by dehydration and extra physical sleeping patterns. Patients can sometimes suffer from effort, for example attending nightly congregational indigestion after they return to sleep. To reduce the prayers. Where feasible, all patients should be advised burden of ingestion, small frequent meals during to continue light exercise while fasting, and once non-fasting hours should be advised. Once more, again patients should ensure good hydration during meals should be healthy, and fatty or spicy foods non-fasting hours. If regular analgesia is required, should be avoided. Weight loss and sleeping on raised this should ideally be taken with meals at sunrise | May/June 2014 | 23 SEASONAL FEATURE Figure 1: An approach to management of type 2 diabetes during Ramadan for patients planning to fast. (Adapted from Hui et al, 2010 8) and injectable – will need to be altered to reduce this For patients who do fast, risk. Figure 1 summarises some of the changes that may need to be made to medications. it is important to reduce the For a more detailed review of diabetes management lability of blood sugar during during Ramadan, see BJFM Issue 1, June 2013. 7 the day and to advise that they Asthma It is generally accepted that inhaled medications, eat regular, healthy meals although not oral medications, are acceptable during non-fasting hours to use while fasting.9 Nevertheless, opinions on permissibility may vary. It is thus important to explore the types of treatment patients consider acceptable for use while fasting. and sunset. If patients are on specialist therapy, for Research has shown that culturally sensitive medical example for rheumatoid arthritis, they should seek counselling can improve symptoms in patients with scholarly and specialist advice to determine whether asthma. 10 As such, it is important to explore patients’ they are exempted from fasting. previous experiences of fasting during Ramadan and with this information arrive at a joint management Fasting and common medical plan with clear criteria for terminating a fast if a conditions patient feels unwell.
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