RAMADAN C o m p i l e d b y m e d i c a l e x p e r t s , I s l a m i c s c h o l a r s & r e s e a r c h e r s

H E A L T H C A R E C O N S I D E R A T I O N S I N

www.discover-islam.org.uk

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

1   What is Ramadan Meaning, purpose & importance

2   Rules of fasting Who can fast, Do’s and don’ts

3   Health issues in Ramadan Medical conditions

THOUGHTS

your

{ } رمضان

{ } رمضان

=scorching heat

How does this meaning make

sense?

The best things

are heated

products

Purification

MOON MONTHS 12  1.  Muharram  

2.  Safar  3.  Rabi’    al-­‐awwal  

4.  Rabi’  al-­‐thani     5.  Jumada  

al-­‐awwal    6.  Jumada  al-­‐thani  

7.  Rajab  

8.  Sha'ban   9.  Ramadan   10.  Shawwal    

11.  Dhu  al-­‐Qi'dah    

12.  Dhu  al-­‐Hijjah  

“

“

1.5 BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD FASTING IN RAMADAN ="

But why?"

{ } Who keeps this globe spinning?

{ } Who gives us a night to

rest every day?

So whats"

our guide"in life?"

Night of Power Lailatul Qadr"

Taurah"

Muhammad"David" Jesus"Moses"

Zaboor" Injeel" Qur’an"

Messengers of GodReceived guidance"

We will be judged"

{ } Heaven"

or "Hell"

Witnessing there is only One God

Praying 5 times a day

Fasting in the month of Ramadan

Giving charity to the needy

Making pilgrimage to the Ka’bah

built by Abraham

{ } So "

why"

fast?"

{ } “O you who believe! Fasting is written for you as it was written for those before you, so that you may become conscious of God and better” [Quran 2:183]

Give in charity and help the poor

Making lots of supplication

Increasing in prayer and worship

Spending more time at the mosque

Reading & learning the Qur’an •  Contemplation

•  Compassion •  Charity •  Community

“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it and offensive speech and behaviour, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.”

No eating, drinking or intimate relations

Avoiding time wasters

No arguing or fighting and avoiding sins

No swearing, lying and backbiting

IN LUTON

Ramadan

Dietary  recommendaIons  

Complex  carbohdrates  Grains  and  seeds,  like  barley,  wheat,  oats,  millets,  beans,  lenIls,  wholemeal,  flour,  chickpeas,  basmaI  rice  

Fibre-­‐rich  foods  Bran,  cereals,  whole  wheat,  grains  and  seeds,  potatoes  +  skin,  vegetables  and  fruit  including  apricots  &  figs  

Milk  based  dishes  Rice  pudding,  Rasmalai,  Barfee  

Baked/boiled/Grilled  dishes  

Heavily-­‐processed  foods  Sugar,  white  flour  etc.  

FaZy  foods  Cakes,  biscuits,  chocolates,  sweets  

High  caffeine  drinks  Tea,  coffee,  cola  (cause  faster  water  loss  through  urinaIon)  

Deep  fried  foods  Pakoras,  Samosas  

Sunrise  2.50am  

Sunset  9.24pm  

How  long?  

PotenIal  Health  ComplicaIons  and  Possible  Remedies  

“So  whoever  among  you  is  ill  or  on  a  journey  -­‐  then  an  equal  number  of  days  [are  to  be  made  up].  And  upon  those  who  face  difficulty  fasHng,  they  must  

subsHtute  this  by  feeding  a  poor  person”    Surah  Al-­‐Baqarah:  184  

1.  SYMPTOMS  

2.  MANAGEMENT  

3.  PREVENTATIVE  MEASURES  

APPROACH  

FasIng  usually  reduces  the  amount  of  acid  produced,  although  thinking  about  food  can  cause  the  body  to  produce  more  acid.  Hence  if  there  is  a  net  increase  in  acid,  heartburn  may  occur.  

Those  on  regular  medicaIon  e.g.  Antacids  (Gaviscon),  anIhistamines  (Zantac)  or  proton  pump  inhibitors  (Losec,  Nexium)  should  take  them  at  the  predawn  meal  

Eat  in  moderaIon  -­‐  avoid  oily,  deep  fried  or  very  spicy  food.  Reduce  caffeine  intake.  Peppermint  oil  may  help  reduce  colic.  

Heartburn  

Regular  self-­‐monitoring  is  very  important.  Low  blood  sugar  levels  (Hypo)  is  dangerous,  and  if  untreated  may  lead  to  faint  or  fits.    Symptoms  include  feeling  dizzy,  sweaty  and  disorientated.    If  suspected,  you  should  have  a  sugary  drink,  or  place  sugar  or  a  sugar-­‐rich  sweet  below  the  tongue.  

Those  with  medicated  diabetes  control  should  see  a  GP  before  Ramadan  to  discuss  any  changes  in  medicaIon.  This  is  very  important  for  those  with  other  further  complicaIons  e.g.  angina,  eye  disease  

Eat  balanced  meals  and  take  medicaIon  pre-­‐dawn.  Monitor  closely.  

Poor  control  of  diabetes    Those  injecIng  insulin  are  advised  not  to  fast,  as  the  potenIal  risk  to  health,  both  in  

the  short  and  long  term,  of  not  taking  insulin  is  too  great.  

Commonly  due  to  dehydraIon  or  hunger,  inadequate  rest,  or  due  to  the  absence  of  addicIve  substances  such  as  caffeine  or  nicoIne.  

Those  with  a  history  of  frequent  and/or  disabling  migraines  should  aim  to  gain  adequate  control  with  lifestyle  and/or  medical  treatment  if  required,  prior  to  starIng  a  fast.  

Moderate  and  balanced  diet  especially  not  missing  the  pre-­‐dawn  meal,  consuming  adequate  quanIIes  of  fluid  and  if  necessary  taking  a  dose  of  painkillers  such  as  paracetamol.  Keep  out  of  the  sun.  

Migraines  /  Headache  

This  risk  is  higher  in  the  elderly,  and  in  those  taking  tablets  such  as  diureIcs.  Depending  on  the  severity  of  the  dehydraIon,  you  may  experience  a  general  feeling  of  being  unwell,  lethargy,  muscle  cramps,  dizziness,  disorientaIon  and  even  collapse  or  faint.  

If  you  are  unable  to  stand-­‐up  due  to  dizziness,  or  disorientated,  you  should  urgently  re-­‐hydrate  with  regular  moderate  quanIIes  of  water,  ideally  with  sugar  and  salt,  such  as  Dioralyte  or  Lucozade.  

Drink  as  much  water  as  possible  prior  to  and  aner  the  fast.  Try  to  cut  down  on  caffeine  in  teas,  coffees  and  fizzy  drinks.  

DehydraHon  

Other  maRers  

High  blood  pressure  and  asthma  are  controlled  using  medicaIons  that  need  to  be  taken  regularly  every  day  of  the  year.    Consult  with  your  doctor  should  to  discuss  potenIal  opIons  of  compleIng  a  fast  safely,  whilst  conInuing  to  control  your  disease.  

ConsIpaIon  could  be  a  very  irritaIng  problem  for  the  person  undertaking  a  fast.  Maintain  good  hydraIon  outside  the  fast  eaIng  healthily,  with  lots  of  fruit  and  vegetables  in  your  diet  to  increase  fibre  and  remain  acIve  to  help  your  bowel  moIons.  If  the  problem  persists,  a  short  course  of  bulk  laxaIves  may  help.  

Lack  of  food  and  water,  changes  of  rouIne  and  shorter  periods  of  sleep  can  all  collude  to  increase  stress  levels.  Don’t  take  on  more  than  you  can  reasonably  handle.  Avoid  playing  sports  in  the  hot  sun,  controlling  your  anger  in  advance  and  abstaining  from  smoking.  

Pregnancy  &  children  

It  is  not  compulsory  to  fast  while  pregnant,  but  the  fasts  should  be  made  up  later.    If  a  pregnant  woman  feels  strong  and  healthy  enough  to  fast,  especially  during  the  early  part  of  the  pregnancy,  she  may  do  so.  

Breasoeeding    Islamic  law  exempts  a  breasoeeding  mother  from  fasIng.  Missed  fasts  will  need  to  be  compensated  for  by  fasIng  if  possible  once  breasoeeding  has  ceased.  

Children  are  required  to  fast  from  the  age  of  puberty,  and  this  not  harmful.  FasIng  prior  to  this  age  is  tolerated  differently  depending  on  the  children’s  general  health,  nutriIon  and  aptude.    FasIng  prior  to  the  age  of  7  or  8  years  is  not  advisable,  although  it  is  a  good  idea  to  make  young  children  aware  of  the  pracIce  of  fasIng  in  the  community  around  them  and  perhaps  do  mini-­‐fasts.  

THANK YOU

www.discover-islam.org.uk