Headaches in Ramadan

Hello Everyone,

Everyone knows that Ramadan is the holly month of fasting. The average hours of fasting are from 10 to 12 hours. As a doctor, the most common complaint I face from those who fast, especially during the first week of Ramadan are HEADACHES.

It is estimated that around 40% of those who fast suffer from headaches.

So why do headaches increase when fasting?

Well there are several reasons, and most can be avoided or can be easily dealt with.

The most common cause for a headache is simply the change in eating habits which may cause dehydration and hypoglycemia (low fluids, low sugar respectively).

The solution is simple: start by omitting breakfast and reduce coffee & tea intake a few days before Ramadan. This way your body will adjust to the new system gradually.

For those who smoke, another common reason for headaches is smoking, or the lack of it. Smokers suffer because their bodies are dependant on nicotine. So they will feel tired, with low moods and headaches.

There are other reasons like dyspepsia (increase acidity of the stomach) during fasting, for this problem it is good to eat a light and healthy sohoor that contains carbohydrates to help fill the stomach, keep the sugar level steady and reduce acidity of the stomach.

Patients, who suffer from sinusitis or migraine, may experience bouts of severe headaches during fasting. These patients should avoid trigger factors like food and other allergens that may precipitate the attacks.

In short:

- Prepare for fasting before Ramadan.

- Eat a healthy balanced fotor, less fat, sugar & salt.

- Avoid trigger factors that may precipitate headaches.

- If you need to take medications for headache, take them with your sohoor.

Ramadan is a great opportunity to get rid of your addiction to nicotine and caffeine, take this chance and cleanse you body.

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