Ulcer patients need extra care to avoid complications while fasting

Rawalpindi: The patients suffering from stomach ulcer, while opting for a month-long fasting in the holy month of Ramazan, should seek advice from their physicians and undergo a complete medical check-up at least once before and once after the middle of Ramazan to avoid complications.

According to health experts, it is observed that a good number of ulcer patients may face complications including recurrence of the disease and ulcer bleeding particularly after 20th of Ramazan. The ulcer might develop life-threatening complications including haemorrhages in a fasting patient if he or she does not take extra care however, with the help of proper medication, the effects of fasting on an ulcer patient can be minimized and complications can be avoided.

Stomach ulcer (also called a peptic ulcer) is small erosion (hole) in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies reveal that the direct cause of peptic ulcers is destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach. Excess secretion of hydrochloric acid, genetic predisposition, and psychological stress are important contributing factors in the formation and worsening of duodenal ulcers.

Senior Vice President at College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoaib Shafi with the help of surgeons had once conducted a research on complications of ulcer among patients while fasting. During the research, it was found that many patients with severe ulcer when fasting without taking effective medication had to undergo complications like bleeding, pyloric obstruction and or perforation of ulcer. Professor Shafi had found that the chance of bleeding in a smoker patient of ulcer while fasting during Ramazan is 100 times greater than that of a non-smoker. He suggested that all the patients suffering from ulcer should completely avoid smoking during Ramazan, instead they should use plenty of fruits and lemon during the month of Ramazan if fasting. The research found that in most of the severe cases of ulcer, complications in a fasting patient normally occur after 20th of Ramazan.

It is important that among the major causes of ulcers is the chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin while cigarette smoking is also an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure. It is worth mentioning here that stomach ulcer affects the nerves surrounding it. The nerves become agitated and cause a great amount of pain. In a good number of fasting patients, the stomach ulcers can cause haemorrhages from the erosion of a major blood vessel; a tear in the wall of the stomach or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract because of spasm or swelling in the area of the ulcer.

Health experts including Professor Shafi believe that with the help of modern and latest medicines which are available in markets now, the effects of fasting on an ulcer patient can be minimized as modern medicines are effective for a longer period of time.