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Throughout the month of Ramadan, Yabiladi offers you daily health advice. For this twentieth capsule of our “Allô Doc” series, we discuss the discomfort, exhaustion and fatigue that some people may feel while fasting and how to react to this situation.
Fasting can affect some people in different ways. The fasting person may feel tired, exhausted or even feel unwell. This situation can lead to a loss of muscle tone or loss of consciousness depending on the case. “Several people are wondering regarding the causes of these discomforts as well as what to do when faced with this situation”, observes doctor Amine Mamoun Boutaleb.
Resident doctor in the cardiology department of the CHU Ibn Rochd in Casablanca, he insists on a first point: that of “knowing whether the loss of consciousness is total or partial”.
Suspect a drop in blood pressure or glucose
“Exhaustion, which may be accompanied by loss of consciousness, may be caused by low blood pressure or low glucose levels,” he says. Before reaching this state, “a person will first feel uncomfortable,” says the doctor.
“His skin color can turn a bit yellow. She can sweat a lot, with a more or less cold sweat. She may also experience visual disturbances. If a person experiences these symptoms, they should measure their blood glucose or blood pressure.”
Amine Mamoun Boutaleb
The doctor recalls that a glucose level is low when it is “less than 0.6 grams per liter”. “In this case, the person should drink a glass of lemonade, lemon juice or a glass of water with sugar,” he recommends.
As for blood pressure, Dr. Amine Mamoun Boutaleb recalls that a rate of less than 9 is considered low. “In this case, the person should lie on his back, while lifting his legs,” he says, also suggesting that the patient drink water.
“Whatever the cause of the discomfort, it is recommended that the person go to a doctor to do the necessary and comprehensive examinations in order to prevent it from happening once more. It is also preferable for the person to break their fast,” he concludes.
