Many people are accustomed to starting their day with coffee, tea, and smoking, habits that change with the beginning of Ramadan due to fasting. This shift can negatively affect their mood, causing stress and headaches for some.
اضافة اعلان
In this regard, specialized doctors offer a set of tips for smokers and those addicted to tea, coffee, and stimulants to cope with Ramadan.
Great Benefits
Dr. Marwa Al-Husseini, a general physician from Egypt, begins by affirming that fasting is a beneficial practice for overall health and the digestive system. However, it can be a source of mood disruption for those who are used to smoking excessively or consuming large amounts of stimulants.
Dr. Al-Husseini advises that Ramadan should be used as an opportunity to reduce smoking and the consumption of stimulants, especially coffee, which contains caffeine. She also warns against excessive coffee consumption after Iftar in an attempt by some to "compensate" for the fasting hours. This can make them susceptible to high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and stomach inflammation.
The same applies to tea. Dr. Al-Husseini mentions that trying to compensate for fasting by drinking large amounts of tea can increase urinary problems, raise blood pressure, and cause thirst during the day.
Water Intake
The doctor emphasizes the importance of drinking sufficient amounts of water during fasting to avoid dehydration. She advises moderation in consuming stimulants after Iftar, recommending that it should not exceed three cups of tea, with a preference for green tea and eating nuts.
Regarding other advice, Dr. Al-Husseini suggests that regular exercise is essential to reduce the withdrawal effects of stimulants, such as headaches and irritability. Exercise should be done an hour before Iftar or two hours after Iftar to burn calories and eliminate fats.
Beware of Strokes
Dr. Fouad Ouda, the President of the European-Middle Eastern Medical Association in Italy, warns, in his conversation with 24, against smoking in general, urging smokers to quickly quit this harmful habit.
Dr. Ouda advises utilizing Ramadan to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, warning against smoking immediately after Iftar, which puts people at risk of strokes.
He explains that throughout the day, the stomach is empty, the blood viscosity is high, and blood circulation is slow due to the lack of fluids in the body. Thus, smoking cigarettes immediately after Iftar can have dangerous consequences, as the carcinogenic substances in the cigarettes mix with the blood and travel to the airways and stomach.
According to Dr. Ouda, this process can hinder digestion, disrupt bile secretion, cause loss of appetite, constipation, and potentially lead to strokes.
Dr. Ouda believes the best approach is to reduce cigarette consumption as much as possible during Ramadan and to use it as an opportunity to quit smoking.
