Migraine and fasting in Ramadan

Arabia's weather - migraine - or migraine - is a disease that results from intermittent attacks of severe headaches that cause the patient to general weakness. Most patients require bed rest during and between episodes. Migraine attacks occur 3 or more times during one month, and in some patients it may occur up to 15 times per month.

Migraine may be preceded by precipitating symptoms such as seeing black spots in the eyesight and other visual symptoms. We call this type of migraine as a sister with a ness.

Muslims fast during Ramadan by abstaining from food and drink throughout the day. Fasting may cause headaches in some people, especially on the first day, and also in migraine patients in particular

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In one study, scientists studied migraine attacks in 30 patients during Ramadan. The study found that the number of migraine attacks increased threefold in these patients during Ramadan compared to other months. On the other hand, scientists concluded in another study that included 50 patients, most of whom were women, that fasting does not have any negative effect on migraine patients, and on the contrary, it may reduce the number of attacks.

Reasons for the occurrence of headache in migraine patients during fasting

Headache may occur in migraine patients during fasting due to:

• Lack of water from the body. As this leads to the secretion of histamine in the body, which leads to general weakness and fatigue in the body. This fatigue is usually accompanied by a headache.
• Caffeine suddenly stops from the body.
• Hypoglycemia.
• The level of catecholamine in the body increases. During fasting, the body replaces carbohydrates as an energy source in the cells, and the fats in the body are burned and used as an energy source. This process increases the level of chancolamine. This increases the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.
• Daily lifestyle change and stress.
• The patient stopped smoking suddenly.
• Eating excessive carbohydrates during breakfast or the pre-dawn meal may also cause headaches, as the rapid rise in insulin in the body may lead to a sudden decrease in blood sugar.

Tips to avoid headaches during Ramadan

Doctors should educate their patients about the possibility of increasing the chance of migraine during Ramadan, and they should be advised of the following:

Diet for migraine patients in Ramadan

• Patients are advised to drink adequate amounts of water in the evening and to avoid drinking too much caffeine as it acts as a diuretic.
• Gradually reduce the intake of caffeine in tea or coffee in the weeks leading up to Ramadan, to reduce headaches related to a sudden withdrawal of caffeine from the body.
• Eat a low-carb meal at the pre-dawn meal to prevent a rapid insulin spike during fasting. It is advised to limit your intake of cakes, cookies, ice cream and anything that leads to consuming large amounts of sugar within a short period of time.
• Adding a percentage of fiber to the suhoor meal to prolong the effect of the presence of sugar in the blood, as the fiber is absorbed slowly in the body. Foods with slow absorption or a low sugar content also include beans, lentils, all non-starchy vegetables, some starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, most fruits, and whole grains (such as whole-wheat bread, high-fiber bread, and breakfast cereals). )
• Add foods containing protein to your meal.

General advice for migraine patients in Ramadan

Avoid straining with rest, and sleep for an adequate amount of time.

Avoid exposure to other migraine triggers such as fluid retention, stress, smoking, fatigue, and lack of sleep during Ramadan.

It should be noted that some patients who are unable to fast due to migraine attacks may have to break their fast during Ramadan.

Migraine medications and treatments that can be used during Ramadan

For patients who have experienced frequent migraine attacks during the previous months of Ramadan, the doctor in charge of their condition can prescribe a migraine preventive medicine once a day during the evening.

It is advised to avoid starting to take beta blockers or tricyclic antidepressants during the holy month of migraine. There are no adequate studies on the effectiveness of these drugs during fasting, except for their inappropriate side effects with fasting such as low blood pressure, weakness, and dizziness.

A doctor may prescribe a long-acting drug valproic acid once daily. This drug has been shown to be effective in relieving migraine symptoms in patients with migraine without a symptom due to hypoglycemia.

The patient can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic such as ketoprofen and naproxen immediately after the pre-dawn meal to prevent migraine as much as possible.

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