By Leila Haddad, MDHenry Ford Medical Center- Fairlane

For the entire month of September, metro Detroit’s estimated 100,000 Muslims will fast by day and feast by night as they celebrate the holiest of seasons known as Ramadan. It is a time when able-bodied Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from sunup to sundown for 30 days. However, Ramadan is also a time to understand ways to stay healthy during this holy season. That, of course, includes working with your doctor so that you may have a successful Ramadan without becoming unnecessarily sick.

Islamic law exempts the elderly, the ill, young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers from Ramadan’s requirements. Some of these people insist on fasting and may try hiding it from their physicians. That’s an unhealthy move that can have critical consequences.

For example, some Muslims with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes insist on fasting. Generally speaking, a person with Type 1 diabetes or diabetes that is hard to control will be advised not to fast. It could lead to hypoglycemia, dehydration and even a coma. A physician may grant permission to some Type 2 diabetes patients to fast, but only if they are closely monitored. Attention to diet, exercise and frequent checks of glucose levels should be adhered to. Pregnant women with pre-gestational or gestational diabetes should not fast. Inadequate intake of essential nutrients and fluids could be quite harmful to both mother and baby.

For those of you who are on high blood pressure medication, don’t skip it because of fasting. You might run the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. Your physician may be able to alter the dosage level and medication times so that you still can fast without putting yourself at risk.
We cannot ignore the effects of fasting on children. Even though healthy children are not obligated to fast before puberty, some parents allow them to do so at 10 or 11. Make sure these children get up before sunup and feed them a good breakfast without high sugar foods. Boiled eggs, whole-wheat toast and oatmeal will help your children get off to a good start. During lunch ask if your child can go to the library. Teachers may be willing to give tests during the beginning of the day when children are most energetic. Children should be excused from strenuous exercise.

Maintaining proper nutrition and body weight is important for all during Ramadan. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Since there are long hours of fasting, consuming slow digesting foods that last up to eight hours work best, as opposed to fast digesting foods which may last for only three to four hours. Eating whole grains such as wheat, lentils, unpolished rice balanced with green beans, spinach, fruit with skin, dried apricots, figs and prunes are healthy choices. Oh, and don’t forget, many of these healthful foods are found in traditional Mediterranean diets.

For healthy people, common complaints during fasting include feeling hungry and fatigued. People who are used to consuming large amounts of caffeine and nicotine find withdrawal symptoms particularly taxing during Ramadan. Slowly cutting down on caffeine and tobacco three to four weeks before Ramadan may help. Another suggestion is even after Ramadan, continue to drink non-caffeinated beverages and seek medical help so that you may permanently quit smoking.

So please remember to consult with your own physician and your child’s pediatrician before fasting to have a happy, healthy and successful Ramadan. To make an appointment with a Henry Ford Health System physician call (800) HENRY FORD, (800) 436-7936.