Simple measures can help reduce the risk of getting headache
Rawalpindi
A good number of people while fasting in the holy month of Ramazan may suffer from mild to moderate and in some cases severe headaches that, according to health experts, can be avoided or controlled to a significant level by understanding the phenomenon and by following simple preventive measures.
Studies reveal that in majority of cases, the headaches during fast are due to dehydration, hunger, lack of rest or a result of hypoglycaemia (lowering of blood sugar), change in sleep patterns and the stress of fasting or reduction in blood supply to the brain. In some cases, the headache may be because of absence of addictive substances like caffeine or nicotine during the fast.
Researches have shown that fasting during Ramazan is a significant precipitating factor for headache and the onset of headache often occurs in the afternoon or evening before ‘Iftar’. It is also witnessed that chronic patients of headache are more prone to have severe headache during fasting but some patients who experience headaches during fasting do not have any history of headaches or migraines.
According to health experts, headaches during fasting can be managed easily in majority of cases with the help of proper diet at the time of ‘Sehr’, ‘Iftar’ and after ‘Iftar’.
One of the UK’s biggest health websites suggest that moderate and balanced diet, especially not missing the pre-dawn meal (Sehri), taking in enough fluids and, if necessary, some painkillers such as paracetamol, can help prevent or reduce the risk of getting a headache.
The website states that headaches while fasting can also be prevented by not exposing yourself to direct sunlight, wearing a hat when out, using sunglasses to reduce the effect of glare from the sun and relieving any tense muscles with a short, gentle massage.
Assistant Professor at ICU in Holy Family Hospital in town Dr. Muhammad Haroon expressed to ‘The News’ that a good number of people while fasting experience some form of headache though for many it may not be much significant while for others it may be severe. One of the main reasons behind headache during long hours of fasting is that protein breakdown starts and ammonia and other nitrogenous chemicals are released that enter brain and cause headache, drowsiness and lethargy, he said.
According to him, another reason is that when empty stomach is filled rapidly at the time of ‘Iftar’, 60 to 70 per cent of the blood supply is directed towards gastrointestinal system for digestion of the food consumed causing reduction in blood supply to the brain that results in persistent headache.
Studies reveal that the human brain is more than 75 per cent water, and it is very sensitive to the amount of water available to it. When the brain detects that the water supply is too low, it begins to produce histamines. This is essentially a process of water rationing and conservation, in order to safeguard the brain in case the water shortage continues for a longer period of time. The histamines directly cause pain and fatigue, in other words a headache and the low energy that usually accompanies it.
To reduce the risk of getting headache, Dr. Haroon advised that people should not eat too much at the time of ‘Iftar’ and avoid stomach distention. People particularly those who experience headache while fasting should take plenty of fluids between ‘Iftar’ and ‘Sehr’ and at the time of ‘Sehr’, they should take proper diet, he said. “People who suffer headache under the fast should try to take two-hour bed rest daily after 3:00 pm.”
He added that hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can also trigger headaches in many people. If a meal with high sugar content is taken at the time of ‘Sehr’, it can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels followed by a fast drop that may trigger a headache. Eating a meal with low sugar content at the time of ‘Sehr’ may prevent the onset of a headache during the day, he said.