Fasting has beneficial effects in healthy individuals. For example, it has been observed that in healthy individuals, HDL (good cholesterol) levels increase during Ramadan and the next few weeks compared to before Ramadan, while LDL (bad cholesterol) levels decrease. When fasting properly, restricting daily calorie intake, insulin sensitivity increases and stress tolerance becomes easier. In fact, it has been reported that arteriosclerosis is less even in those who fast at least one day a month.
Another positive aspect of fasting for heart patients is its psychological effect. A person who fasts during Ramadan tries to stay away from negative emotions, thoughts and behaviors, and to cleanse and rest his soul by praying. The spiritual peace achieved is important in relieving depression, which is frequently seen in heart patients.
Can fasting trigger cardiovascular diseases?
The month of Ramadan and It was determined that there was no increase in the rate of hospitalization due to heart diseases during the following month compared to other months. It has been shown that fasting does not have an increasing effect on cardiovascular diseases in healthy people.
However, fasting on hot and long summer days can cause problems for many heart patients. Excessive fluid and salt loss can lead to extreme drops in blood pressure, fainting, or even heart attack and heart failure as a result of impaired nutrition of the heart. This may be even more pronounced in elderly patients.
Can People With Heart Disease Fast During Ramadan?
The holy Ramadan has arrived. Those who fast experience spiritual peace as well as spiritual purification. With the month of Ramadan, those with heart disease began to frequently apply with questions such as "Is there any harm in fasting?", "How should I use my medications while fasting?"
In fact, it would not be right to generalize that heart patients can or cannot fast. Because heart diseases, or rather cardiovascular diseases, range from simple rhythm disorders such as palpitations to advanced-stage heart failure. Therefore, make decisions by evaluating heart patients individually. must be done. In other words, it is not true to generalize that all heart patients cannot fast; the decision must be made according to the type and severity of the disease. It also affects the health status of the person whether there is a disruption in the drinking pattern of medications.
Is it harmful for cardiovascular patients to fast?
In general, it is known that the disease does not progress differently and there is no significant worsening during Ramadan in heart patients who fast according to the rules, compared to heart patients who do not fast. In fact, fasting carried out in accordance with the rules produces beneficial results for patients. For example, in hypertension patients, fasting causes a decrease in blood pressure and weight loss, provided that they continue their medications. The important thing here is to fast by taking cardiovascular health into consideration, that is, to continue taking medications without interruption and to eat correctly during iftar and sahur. However, heart patients should make the decision to fast in consultation with the physician who monitors them and act in accordance with his recommendation. Because in many patients, drug therapy will need to be rearranged and dosage adjusted while fasting.
Changes in nutrition and sleep patterns while fasting may affect the condition of heart patients. For this reason, heart patients who want to fast should first consult their doctor. In general, heart patients whose condition is under control can fast by regulating their medication intake hours and following some nutritional rules in line with the recommendations of their doctors.
However, with heart patients who are not under control, within the last 1 month:
-
He had a heart attack
-
He had a stent placed in his coronary arteries
-
He had bypass surgery
-
Patients who have been hospitalized due to heart failure should not fast.
Heart patients should pay attention to the following issues while fasting:
-
During the month of Ramadan, care should be taken to have an adequate and balanced diet.
-
Meals during Ramadan; It should be arranged as two main meals at sahur and iftar, and two snacks at intervals of 1-1.5 hours after iftar.
-
Patients should not eat too quickly at iftar. This situation negatively affects the cardiovascular system.
-
Patients should continue with the same salt and water intake restrictions that they follow in their daily lives.
-
There are also many cooking methods during Ramadan. It is important. Especially grilled, boiled and oven-baked foods should be preferred, and roasted, smoked and fried foods should be avoided.
Read: 0
