5 Common Health Problems In Ramadan

With the Holy month of Ramadan upon us, our daily routines undergo changes that haven’t been done for at least a year. These changes require getting acclimated to and may be slightly discomforting. Our bodies are incredibly adaptable and always seek homeostasis for normal functioning. However, the acclimatization process can take days or weeks, depending on the individual.

With this blog, we try to address some of the common health issues faced in Ramadan. The list is as follows.

1. Headaches

Headaches are caused by a variety of reasons, some of which could be low blood sugar levels, low water levels, insufficient sleep or stress – apart from the ones due to cold, flu or sinus. Ramadan coupled with quarantine does have an effect on our sleep schedules.

What helps: Make sure you get ample sleep, at least 7-8 hours every day. Be sure to eat healthy foods and drink enough water from iftar to suhoor. However, If the headaches persist for long hours, increase in severity or turn into migraine, please seek professional medical help.

2. Indigestion and Heartburns

Another common occurrence. Indigestion symptoms may include unusual stomach noises, pains in the abdomen or just frequent trips to the washroom. All these are usually due to over-eating or eating a lot of oily, spicy or fatty foods.

What helps: A balanced diet definitely helps and avoiding these foods in large quantities, especially while breaking fast. Pace your meals so the digestive system isn’t burdened. Laban and yoghurt are effective cooling agents that soothe the digestive tract. If the pains are severe and frequent, please seek professional medical help.

3. Light-headedness

To simplify, this is a feeling of drowsiness and dizziness during the day. It can also happen when suddenly waking up or quickly standing up from a stationary position. The probable cause of this can be narrowed down to fluctuating blood pressure, low blood sugar levels, low water levels or iron deficiency. If you have a case of anaemia, the condition may be aggravated while fasting.

What helps: As mentioned before, make sure you get ample sleep, at least 7-8 hours every day. Drinking enough water and a healthy diet are effective measures. Including high-iron sources like legumes, leafy greens such as spinach, or red meat might help keep anaemia at bay. Please seek medical help if the condition persists for days or worsens with time.

4. Mood swings

Ramadan in the face of the current pandemic can have an impact on mental health. Quarantined in one place for months can take its toll and this results in irregular mood swings. Bear in mind, this is normal as one or the other person experiences this since we are all affected by the pandemic as a whole.

What helps: Socializing with your friends and family from a safe distance via call or video chat can help better the mood. The effects of exercise are not to be underestimated, courtesy post-workout endorphins that are responsible for that rejuvenated, ‘on-top-of the-world’ sensation. You can read more about maintaining your mental health here .

5. Falling Sick

Consuming cold drinks while breaking the fast or a low immunity might be to blame for this one. Fasting through the day causes the body to go through minor physiological changes, often resulting in elevated body temperatures. Sudden consumption of cold drinks at Iftar often results in cold, cough and occasionally fever.

What helps: To strengthen the immunity, include vitamin C-rich foods in your diet. Although this is common, it also is a very precarious time to be falling sick and would be highly advisable to get a check-up done as soon as possible in light of the current pandemic.

To sum it all up, the following 4 aspects will help keep majority of health problems at bay – A healthy diet, regular exercise, ample sleep and a balanced mental health.

These maybe quite simple to think of but are often overlooked. All of the above are simple household tips and are in no way comparable to expert advice from certified doctors. Please seek medical help in case of ambiguous symptoms and other complications.

The following blogs will further help with your health goals in Ramadan.

• Healthy Iftar Recipes
• Healthy Suhoor Recipes
• 8 Exercises to maintain muscle in Ramadan

Avoid discomfort and make the most of this Holy month. We hope you have a healthy and blessed Ramadan.

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