The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has offered healthy tips for heart patients to fast safely during Ramadan. In fact, fasting is often beneficial for them. Lower food intake; abstaining from smoking; and the stress-reduced atmosphere associated with the Holy Month of Ramadan; will reduce heart disease risk in general, and also have a positive impact on people with heart conditions.
Studies have shown that a heart patient with stable heart conditions who have no recurrent symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath can fast normally during Ramadan. However, undoubtedly heart patients should consult their doctor. Patients should also consult their doctor on how their medication should be administered during Ramadan.
“Some categories of heart patients must not fast for some health reasons. These represent patients who suffer from frequent chest pain and patients with ischemic heart failure who suffer from fatigue. Severe and shortness of breath, as he needs to take diuretics constantly, and heart attack patients who cannot usually fast during the six weeks following the occurrence of a heart attack,” explained, Dr Musa Basheer Mansour, consultant family medicine, PHCC’s Umm Ghuwailina Health Centre.
Dr Mansour added that open heart surgery patients should not fast within the six weeks following surgery, as well as patients where the heart’s aortic valve is narrowed or inflamed, heart patients who are on blood thinners or anticoagulants, patients on malignant arrhythmia medications, and patients with heart conditions that require constant professional observation.
Dr Mansour advised patients with heart problems to perform regular exercise as it helps them enjoy a better physical and mental health and fight disease by boosting immunity and reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks. He recommended walking for 30 minutes a day, preferably at least two hours after eating, and exercising for 10 minutes three times a day, while avoiding violent sports.
Lack of exercise, however, leads to higher levels of blood sugar and cholesterol, fat metabolism disorder, weight gain, strokes, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, back and joint pain, weak immunity, low oxygen absorption, poor digestion, bronchial obstruction, chest congestion, and loss of vitality and energy.
Dr. Mansour advised patients to avoid staying up late, quit smoking, take medicine as prescribed, avoid stress, and make sure to follow a healthy diet.
Dr Musa Basheer
