Patients with ulcer may face complications while fasting

Rawalpindi
Health experts say that majority of ulcer patients may face complications including recurrence of the disease and ulcer bleeding in result of regular fasting in the holy month of Ramazan, if they do not opt for proper medication after consultation with qualified physician.
The ulcer patients while fasting for over 16 hours a day may develop life-threatening complications including hemorrhages if they do not take extra care in their diet and medication. The patients with stomach ulcer must undergo complete medical check-ups at least once before and once during fasting in the month of Ramazan.
Professor of Medicine at Rawalpindi Medical College Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Shafi who conducted a research on complications of ulcer during fasting with the help of Professor of Surgery at RMC Dr. Jahangir Sarwar a few years back found that patients with severe ulcer when opt for fasting without taking effective medication have to undergo complications like bleeding, pyloric obstruction and or perforation of ulcer.
Talking to ‘The News’ on Tuesday, Professor Shoaib said that a patient of ulcer while fasting in Ramazan can minimise the effects of fasting through effective medication and can avoid complications.
He said the research had found that chance of bleeding in a smoker patient of ulcer while fasting is 100 times greater than that of a non-smoker. He suggested that chronic patients of ulcer should avoid smoking if fasting in Ramazan. He added to minimise the effects of fasting; ulcer patients should use plenty of fresh fruits and lemon during Ramazan.
Stomach ulcer (also called a peptic ulcer) is small erosion (hole) in the gastrointestinal tract. 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.
Studies reveal that excess secretion of hydrochloric acid, genetic predisposition, and psychological stress are important contributing factors in the formation and worsening of duodenal ulcers.
Studies reveal 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.
Dr. Shoaib said the major causes of ulcers include chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin, cigarette smoking and use of painkillers particularly for rheumatic pains and arthritis without advice from qualified physician.
He said that in most of the cases with severe ulcer, complications occur after a few days of fasting however, the best option for a chronic patient of the disease is to undergo medical examination before opting for regular fasting in Ramazan.
Now much effective medicines are available in markets with the use of which an ulcer patient can avoid complications of the disease without diet for over 20 hours, said Professor Shoaib.