Health tips for Ramadaan from the specialists

Diabetic patients undertaking the Ramadaan fast should check their glucose to detect high or low levels. A level below 3.9 mmol/l warrants termination of the fast. Finger prick testing does not invalidate the fast. Hoosen Randeree – Endocrinologist.
Patients who have had a recent heart attack (<6 weeks) or have severe heart failure are advised not to fast, but this needs to be on an individual basis in consultation with their Cardiologist. Dr Ahmed Vachiat – Cardiologist.
Kidney patients on dialysis should be cautious about fasting. Check with your dialysis team regarding your blood pressure control and your fluid status before making a decision. Remember that Ramadaan is not only fasting but many other facets of practicing your love for and belief in the Creator. Dr Haroon Tayob – Nephrologist.
Avoid constipation by including a high fibre item at Sehri and Iftaar. Fibre and yoghurt are great ways to keep bowels regular during the month of Ramadaan. High fibre sources include, fresh fruit and vegetables, high fibre breads cereals, brown rice and starchy vegetables. Faaizah Asmal Laher – Dietician.
Concentration & kids: Concentration is best earlier in the morning, closer to sehri or about 45min after iftaar. Shuffle study times or trickier learning in these times. Waheeda Essop – Occupational Therapist.
Hiatus hernias, peptic ulcers – fasting may cause increased acid levels and may aggravate such conditions. Spicy foods, sauces, pickled, fried and fatty foods can cause or worsen such issues and need to be excluded from the diet. Various medications are available to manage acidity levels in the stomach, and taken daily throughout Ramadaan in patients who have such conditions. Basheera Seedat – Pharmacist Intern Sparkport.
In Ramadaan the hours one spends reading Quran increases. Good posture prevents neck strain and hence headaches, neck and back pain. The ideal posture is to sit with the back upright supported against the back of a chair, feet firmly on the ground with thighs parallel to the floor. The Quran should be an arms length away. If it’s too low, then raise it on other books so that your neck is not bent. Your chair must be as close to the table as possible. Avoid sitting for too long. Get up every hour and walk around to facilitate circulation. Shamim Khan – Physiotherapist.
People who suffer with kidney stones should ensure adequate fluid intake. Ensure dietary habits which reduce stone formation are maintained including reduced salt, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and reduced purines. This will depend on the type of stone former you are. Get advice from your medical professional. Dr Shoyab Wadee – Nephrologist.
Always go to bed on an empty stomach. This will prevent acid reflux symptoms like a sore throat in the morning, constant clearing of throat and reflux even worsens snoring. Give your stomach a break from food so that your body can use up existing stores in liver and fat. Then ‘break your fast’ in the morning again. If you have any of these symptoms, consume water only for the last 2 hours before lying down. Thus eating after taraweeh is not a good idea. Dr Azgher M Karjieker – ENT Surgeon.
Fasting does create changes in energy levels and therefore mental health. Be mindful and aware of this in your interactions with others. Always think before you speak and make a cognitive effort not to become angry too quickly. These actions could result in guilt feelings later. Nasreen Sardiwalla Ebrahim – Clinical Psychologist.
During Ramadaan we tend to consume more drinks such as milk, juices and teas. There is evidence that moderate consumption of milk and other dietary calcium does not increase the risk of kidney stones, in fact it is one of the measures recommended for reducing the risk of stones. Citrus fruit and their juices like lemon, oranges and grapefruit in moderation can also block the formation of stones due to naturally occurring citrate. Dr Salim Choonara – Urologist.
Some form of exercise should be continued during Ramadaan. Taraweeh namaaz is one part of the month. Moderate exercise that does not affect the fast is imperative to maintain fitness levels. Dr Salim Parker – General Practitioner & Travel Medicine.
Wear comfortable shoes and avoid flip flops as they have no arch support, to prevent painful feet during all the extra namaaz in Ramadaan. Ahmed Mottiar – Podiatrist.
Did you know that during namaaz, parasympathetic nervous system activity increased and sympathetic activity decreased. Therefore, regular namaaz practices inside and outside Ramadaan may help promote relaxation, minimize anxiety, and reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Abdul Hamid Jalal – Biokineticist.
We often feel drowsy after Iftar or Sehri. Do not sleep immediately after eating as your body needs to be upright to digest the food you consume, to release energy. Sleeping after eating my cause gas, heartburn, flatulence and bloating. EB Paruk – Pharmacist.
Islam excuses breastfeeding mothers from fasting. Breastfeeding mothers who still decide to fast may need to breastfeed more often than usual to keep up their milk supply. The more often breasts are drained, the emptier the breasts, the faster they make more milk. Breastfeeding mothers need to watch for signs of severe dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, lethargy, headache) and consider breaking their fast under such circumstances. Dr Rahmat Bibi Bagus – GP & Lactation Consultant.
Sleep deprivation is a real problem during Ramadaan. Sleep deprivation causes daytime sleepiness, tiredness, loss of recall memory and over time, can lead to hypertension and diabetes. We need about 6 hours of continuous sleep to get the benefit of deep sleep. Try to go to bed early, avoid socialising and avoid caffeine drinks after Taraweeh namaaz. Get a power nap after Zuhr Salaah for about 20 to 30 mins. It will help to keep you awake for Taraweeh namaaz and compensate for the loss of sleep at night. Dr Farouk Haffejee – Family Physician.
Consuming fruits and vegetables can increase saliva production. Avoiding sweet- and strong-smelling foods can prevent bad breath. Foods or drinks high in sugar can cause the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath to increase. If necessary, you can still visit the dentist whilst fasting, doing selective procedures that does not nullify the fast. Ramadaan Dental Tips.
This Ramaadan value the gift of sight from the Almighty and care for your eyes. Begin practising the 20/20/20 Rule. Reading at near for prolonged periods causes eye muscle strain, dry eyes and headaches. Symtoms are worse if reading Quraan etc on digital devices. “20/20/20 Rule” – After every 20 mins of reading at near, look away at something that is 20 feet away, just for 20 secs. All it takes is 20 secs for our eye muscles to relax. Yasiera Mahomed -Suliman – Optometrist.
Smoking causes harm to multiple organs in the body especially the lungs and the heart. Abstinence from smoking during the day is essential for your fast so use the opportunity in the month of Ramadaan to try and quit smoking altogether. Prof Akhter Goolam Mahomed – Pulmonologist.