Fasting and heart disease

While fasting is a means of attaining piety and strengthening the relationship with Allah, it also plays an important role in improving physical and mental health. According to medical research, avoiding food and drink for several hours is beneficial in improving the various functions and systems of the human body. If seen in the background of heart diseases, fasting people have better heart health.

However, fasting can cause many complications for some people, especially those who are frail or debilitated or whose disease is not fully controlled. In the article under consideration, we will explain some details about heart diseases in particular. The majority of patients suffering from it are generally stable. However, it is not possible for some patients to fast and endure long hours of hunger and thirst.

There are many types of heart diseases, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (angina, heart attack, stent, bypass, etc.), weakness of the heart muscle or heart failure, heart valve and palpitation disease. included. Apart from this, heart disease can also occur with other diseases like diabetes etc. In view of all these issues, the instructions for fasting or non-fasting may be different for each patient. For example, heart patients with diabetes may find it difficult to fast.

Below are the rules and guidelines related to fasting for various heart diseases. These instructions must be kept in mind by heart patients during Ramadan.

High blood pressure

For the majority of patients with high blood pressure, there is no problem with fasting. Only patients whose blood pressure is not well controlled or who also have diabetes that is not under control should decide whether or not to fast after consulting their physician. It should be noted that fasting or eating less food generally lowers blood pressure.

So, if the patient feels weak, gets dizzy while standing, check his blood pressure. It is better if the blood pressure patients keep a blood pressure device with them and check their blood pressure 2 times in the morning (with an interval of five minutes) and twice in the evening (with an interval of five minutes) and this process two or three times. Hold for a day. If the average blood pressure is falling (average 80/130), the medication can be reduced.

Coronary artery disease

(angina, heart attack, stent, bypass etc.)

If someone has had a heart attack in the last six weeks, or had a bypass within three months, or had a stent inserted in the last six weeks, those patients should not fast. Those patients who have had angina, heart attack, bypass or stent etc. in the past, but now they are not facing any discomfort in their daily life activities, they can fast. Such patients can schedule their medication according to the timings of Suhr and Iftar. If the doctor has prescribed the medicine at the same time, it can be taken after dinner.

Heart muscle disease, or heart failure The vast majority of heart patients are people whose heart is not working properly for some reason (usually after a heart attack, etc.). would have Some of these people have to rely on diuretics. The function of these medicines is to prevent the accumulation of water in the body.

Patients who need these drugs or feel shortness of breath, shortness of breath or weakness while walking should not fast, because diuretics and food restriction will deplete their body of water and Salt deficiency may occur, which may lead to various other complications and irritations, but patients who do not require diuretics can easily carry out daily activities and exercise, walking, etc. , they can fast.

Heart valve

There are four valves in the heart, whose function is to prevent the backflow of blood. People who suffer from valve stenosis, especially Mitral stenosis or Aortic stenosis, due to which they suffer from daily activities or are taking medication, should avoid fasting. It should be noted that people with leaking valves can generally fast.

Rapid heartbeat

Some people have problems with irregular or fast heartbeats. Generally, if they do not have any problem in their daily life, walking or exercising, walking, etc., then they can fast. One thing that is especially important is that some patients taking blood thinners to prevent stroke etc. should not be stopped under any circumstances. Some patients also use new drugs which are beneficial for other diseases eg: Diabetes treatment but also for heart diseases, they are diuretics, so their use should be avoided.

Following are the basic rules for fasting or not fasting with heart disease:

*If a patient’s blood pressure is not fully controlled, he should avoid fasting until his blood pressure is fully controlled. In addition, blood pressure generally decreases during fasting. Therefore, you can use the medicine after checking the blood pressure in the initial days.

Anti-coagulants or antiplatelets should not be stopped under any circumstances.

The author is a Consultant Cardiologist at Shifaa International Hospital, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shifaa-e-Milat University and President of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), Islamabad.