Recommendations for heart patients to spend Ramadan healthy
Evaluating the positive and negative results of fasting, which ensures the purification of the body of toxins by protecting mental and physical health for healthy people, for people with cardiovascular diseases, expert cardiologist Dr. Levent Saraç stated that it is not correct to generalize whether or not cardiovascular patients can fast. Every patient; Dr. Dr. Saraç said: “Patients should listen to their doctor and fast by considering their cardiovascular health. Heart patients who are found fit to fast can safely fast by continuing their medication without interruption, eating right at iftar and sahur, and acting according to their recommendations.
Benefits of fasting for heart patients
Specialist dr. Levent Saraç said: “Research in healthy people has shown us the beneficial effects of fasting. In studies, HDL cholesterol levels increased and LDL levels decreased in patients compared to pre-Ramadan. With careful fasting, it is easier to limit daily calorie intake, increase insulin sensitivity and resistance to oxidative stress. It has been reported that atherosclerosis is less common in people who fast more than one day per month. Another positive aspect of fasting in cardiovascular patients is its psychological effects. The happiness of performing a worship that is obligatory for a Muslim is great. In addition, it is important that patients feel confident by reducing their depressed mood while they are ill, for a good course of the disease.
Referring to the points that cardiovascular patients should pay attention to while fasting, Dr. Saraç said: “The main problem in patients with cardiovascular disease is the evaluation of the patient’s condition by a cardiologist before fasting. The medications used by these patients generally need to be taken regularly. It should be taken into account whether the order of taking medication is disturbed.
Who can not fast
Angry. Dr. Saraç listed the cardiovascular diseases that are not recommended for fasting with the following statements:
“The stable course of patients with advanced heart failure is possible with regular medication use and maintenance of fluid-electrolyte balance. There may be many medications that these patients must take due to intercurrent illnesses such as kidney failure and diabetes. Based on this, the doctor makes a decision. Fasting may not be appropriate, especially if conditions such as chest pain and shortness of breath are actively progressing.
The scientific literature states that patients who have had a myocardial infarction in the past 6 months, have symptoms of angina pectoris, or have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary bypass surgery in the past 6 months should not fast. In patients diagnosed or predisposed to arrhythmia, fasting can cause electrolyte imbalance and ischemia. Therefore, fasting may not be appropriate, especially for patients with severe arrhythmias. Patients with resistant hypertension should not fast until blood pressure returns to normal. Patients with controlled hypertension can fast as long as they take their medications regularly. All cardiovascular patients should consult their doctor whether they can fast or not.”
“Necessary arrangements for drug treatment should be made before Ramadan”
Saraç explained how heart patients should continue their medication during Ramadan: “One of the main problems of heart patients in Ramadan is that they cannot determine the order in which they will take their medication. Doctors can make adjustments taking into account the duration of action of the medicine. In patients taking the drug once a day, the treatment can be adjusted by changing the dose in sahur or iftar. However, it is important that patients take their medication at the same time each day. Caution is advised when using anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents other than aspirin. Dose adjustment or change may be necessary in patients fasting before Ramadan. It makes sense to switch to active drugs 24 hours before Ramadan, so as not to endanger patients. Patients taking the drug more than once a day should use slow-release drugs whenever possible. If this is not possible, the dose of iftar and sahur should be adjusted taking into account the half-life of the drug. It should be remembered that hunger and satiety affect the absorption of drugs. Therefore, this should be taken into account when determining the time interval at which dosing is recommended. In addition, drugs that interact with each other should be taken at separate meals.
Note the loss of water in the body
Finally, Saraç, who shared the effects of the food consumed between iftar and sahur on heart health, warned that patients should pay more attention to what they eat while fasting because meals change during the fast. salty, fatty and sugary foods and maintain a healthy diet. In addition, it should not be forgotten that excessive consumption of food can lead to digestive problems and worsening of blood pressure control. Since fluid intake is limited during fasting, people with cardiovascular disease should be extra careful about the loss of water in the body. For this reason, it is important that patients drink enough water before sahur and increase their fluid intake during iftar. Sometimes excessive fluid intake can cause other health problems, especially in people with heart failure. Therefore, the doctor’s recommendations for fluid intake should be taken into account. In addition, cardiovascular disease in Ramadan should eat 3 meals instead of 2 meals. In this way, since the amount of food is shared, the patient’s heart load does not increase.