- Hypertensive patients who are under control and do not suffer from other health problems can fast during Ramadan after consulting a doctor.
- Changing their eating and sleeping patterns may affect blood pressure. Therefore, those with high blood pressure should organize their meals and sleeping times before Ramadan to suit their duties during the holy month.
- It is recommended to check their blood pressure in the morning after Fajr prayer and before breakfast and adjust their medication doses according to what the doctor recommends.
- Some patients may suffer from headaches during fasting due to high blood pressure. If it occurs more than three times a week, a doctor should be consulted.
- The patient should not stop taking any of their medications under any circumstances, especially during Ramadan.
- The patient should maintain physical activity during the night and get enough sleep.
High blood pressure (Hypertension) medications:
- The doctor must be consulted well before the start of fasting, to adjust the doses of medications to suit breakfast and suhoor:
- One dose daily: It is preferable to take it after Tarawih, so that the body has regained its fluids, and to prevent a drop in blood pressure.
- Two doses daily: It is preferable to take one after Tarawih prayers, and the other after Suhoor.
- If the patient is taking more than one medication, to lower blood pressure, it is preferable to separate them for at least two hours.
Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)
Hyperlipidemia is high levels of lipids that work either as a material for building cells, or as a source of energy for the body. The liver manufactures most of the body's cholesterol needs. In the holy month of Ramadan, fried foods and foods full of fats are abundant and are harmful to the normal individual, so how harmful is it for patients with high cholesterol.
Does fasting cause an increase in blood concentration and viscosity due to a lack of fluids, which leads to heart attacks?
There is no scientific basis for this belief, as the fasting period does not exceed 16 hours in any case, and the fluids lost by the body during this period do not cause a significant concentration in the blood's ability to clot.
Does fasting affect the medications the patient is taking?
Yes, there are medications that require treatment to be used in close doses (every 6 hours or 4 hours). Therefore, fasting is not possible if the doctor cannot change the doses according to the patient's condition. Examples of this include: most antibiotics, and many medications that regulate the heartbeat and dilate the arteries. However, after the development of pharmacology and the arrival of long-acting medications that last up to 24 hours, the patient can take the medication once a day during the Iftar period, while the medication continues to work in the body during the fasting period. Thus, the patient can fast without any complications after consulting the treating physician.
Who are Cardiac patients exempt from fasting?
- Patients with recent heart attacks.
- Patients with severe, uncontrolled heart failure.
- Patients with unstable angina.
- Patients who need to be hospitalized.
- Patients who need treatment during the day by mouth or injection.