Fasting can benefit heart and hypertension patients

Rawalpindi: Fasting in the holy month of Ramazan can be beneficial for patients suffering from hypertension or heart diseases but, according to health experts, they must take proper guidance from their physicians before opting for regular fasting and should follow proper dietary plan after consultation.

Medical specialists say that fasting has great physical, spiritual and psychological benefits both for the healthy persons and the patients suffering from hypertension or heart diseases. It is generally observed that most of the patients suffering from hypertension or heart diseases feel a lot better under the fast if they follow their physicians’ advice properly on food and medication, said Additional Medical Superintendent at Holy Family Hospital Dr. Tariq Masood Niazi while taking to ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

He however added that opting for fasting in Ramazan depends on age, stage of the disease and dietary habits of a person suffering from ischemic heart disease as every heart patient may not be allowed to fast by his or her physician. The most important thing for a heart patient is schedule of medicines and if it is not disturbed due to fasting, the patient may fast, he said. Also a heart patient should not get stomach full of food even if he is allowed to fast by his or her physician, said Dr. Niazi.

He added the best thing for a heart patient is that he must consult his physician before opting for fasting. It is also important because if a heart patient falls prey to dehydration under the fast, it may cause serious complications for the patient, he said. He said fasting regulates body functions and helps control blood pressure that ultimately gives a lot of benefits to the patients suffering from hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Fasting being a natural way to normalise body weight helps dissolve all unnecessary and unnatural fats deposits in the body that may reduce risk factor of heart attack and other heart diseases, he said.

Following true spirit of fasting brings discipline and contentment of the heart that help controlling diseases like high blood pressure and heart attacks, he said.

Dr. Niazi added that high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet (high sugar, high carbohydrate and excess hydrogenated oils) and stress are the main risk factors for heart diseases and stroke which can be avoided when one opts for fasting.

On selection of food for heart patients while fasting, he said moderate use of monounsaturated fats found in olive oil, canola oil, various dry fruits such as almond, walnut, peanuts etc is safe for heart patients however they should avoid Trans fats found in French fries, chips, crackers, cakes, biscuits, ‘samosas’, ‘pakoras’, sweets, banaspati ghee and hydrogenated oils.

A heart patient while opting for fasting should eat more vegetables especially leafy ones, salads and fruits but not fruit trifles. They should use more lemon and can take milk and yogurt but without cream. Heart patients should use brown flour or bread and simple chapatti, not ‘parathas’. A heart patient can eat one teaspoonful of honey and few dates daily and should use less salt and spices. A heart patient should drink a lot of water from ‘Iftar’ to ‘Sehr’ when opting for fasting, said Dr. Niazi.