Fasting May Trigger Migraines
Increasing the time spent hungry and thirsty can cause some pain in the body. If a person has pain that comes in the form of attacks, but not more than once or twice a month, and if these pains are relieved with non-drug methods, these people can fast by following the sahur and iftar meals properly, said Anadolu Health Center Neurology Department Director Prof. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “However, fasting can trigger this pain in people with chronic pain such as migraine. “As long as you do not experience a very severe pain such as a migraine, it is possible to relieve these pains without breaking your fast.”
Anadolu Health Center Neurology Department Director Prof. stated that some patients with migraine-like pain can fast as long as they continue preventive treatment. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü, “For example; If a patient who has 2-3 migraine attacks a month receives preventive treatment to prevent attacks, he can arrange his medication intake time according to Ramadan and continue his fast since the number of attacks is low. Migraine patients should pay particular attention to fasting because hunger is a situation that 100 percent triggers migraine attacks. Patients who have frequent attacks and very severe attacks feel that the attack is coming and take their medications beforehand. However, since these people cannot take the medicine while fasting, there is a possibility that they may have very severe attacks. Since this situation varies from person to person, the person must test himself. People who experience severe pain should not take the pain seriously and insist on fasting. “Because fasting can seriously disrupt the balance in patients with pain,” he said.
Applying Ice or Cold to the Head Reduces the Severity of the Attack
Prof. stated that people who can sleep enough hours even if their sleep patterns are disrupted and who can use their medications regularly and in accordance with the fast can fast. Dr. Yaşar Kütükçü said, “These people may experience mild to moderate headaches during Ramadan. However, these pains can be relieved with breathing or relaxation exercises. Breathing exercises can be done just like during labor pains. “While you are trying to control the pain yourself, more oxygen is sent to the tissues by ensuring that the body receives good oxygen,” he said.
Prof. shared that exercises in which the person relaxes his muscles on his own are also very useful. Dr. Kütükçü said, “It would be very beneficial to do these exercises in a quiet, calm environment, if possible, accompanied by favorite music. For distraction exercises; You can do something else, listen to music or do anything that relaxes you. If you have the opportunity, you can lie down in a dim and quiet environment. You can go out into the fresh air. “In addition, during migraine pain, squeezing your head with a scarf or cheesecloth and applying ice or cold to your head is very helpful in reducing the severity of the attack.”
