Rawalpindi
Medically, fasting among patients suffering from complications of hepatitis C such as contraction of liver called cirrhosis or ascites (distention of abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity) or liver cancer is not allowed.
Fasting may cause lowering of blood sugar and according to health experts, it may be life-threatening for patients suffering from complications of hepatitis.
The simplest rule for patients of hepatitis B or C to be followed while opting for fasting in the holy month of Ramzan is that if their liver is functioning normal and they can eat anything like a healthy person, they can fast, said Rawalpindi Medical College Principal and chief of allied hospitals in town Professor of Medicine Dr. Muhammad Umar while talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday.
He said if a patient of hepatitis B or C has ever vomited blood, he or she should not fast and similarly if a patient has ever suffered from unconsciousness, he should not fast. The patients with chronic hepatitis B or C must take advice from a qualified physician before going for fasting during Ramazan while patients who have already developed complications of hepatitis should not fast, he said.
He added the patients of hepatitis B or C undergoing injection therapy or taking oral medication may fast but the condition is that they never had any complications of the disease. Such patients while going for fasting should consult their physicians as there may be need of change in schedule of their medicines, said Professor Umar. He added these patients while fasting in Ramazan cannot be allowed to discontinue medication including administration of injections.
It is important that hepatitis C virus infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, considered as the end-stage liver disease. Most of the people develop distention of abdomen due to accumulation of water, many present with vomiting of blood as the veins in the food passage rupture due to raised pressure of the portal circulation. It is estimated that 3-4% of Pakistani population is infected with Hepatitis B virus while 5-6% with hepatitis C virus.
Professor Umar suggested that patients with chronic hepatitis B or C or those who are being treated through injections or oral medication, if fast, should not take food containing higher fats specifically at the time of ‘Iftar’. Such patients should avoid eating ‘Pakoras’, Samosas’ or ‘Kachories’ instead they should take juices and fresh fruits including dates at the time of ‘Iftar’, he said.
He added that if a patient of hepatitis B or C is allowed to fast by his physician, the patient must take plenty of fluid at the time of ‘Sehr’ and ‘Iftar’.
The fasting patients of hepatitis B or C should not retain fasting if they feel drowsiness or pain in stomach instead they should break open fast and consult their physician to avoid complications, said Professor Umar.
He added that the patients of hepatitis B or C and those suffering from stomach related diseases including stomach related acidity, dyspepsia or stomach ulcer should avoid oily foods while fasting and if they still feel that they have symptoms of ulcer, they should not fast.
Medically, fasting among patients suffering from complications of hepatitis C such as contraction of liver called cirrhosis or ascites (distention of abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity) or liver cancer is not allowed.
Fasting may cause lowering of blood sugar and according to health experts, it may be life-threatening for patients suffering from complications of hepatitis.
The simplest rule for patients of hepatitis B or C to be followed while opting for fasting in the holy month of Ramzan is that if their liver is functioning normal and they can eat anything like a healthy person, they can fast, said Rawalpindi Medical College Principal and chief of allied hospitals in town Professor of Medicine Dr. Muhammad Umar while talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday.
He said if a patient of hepatitis B or C has ever vomited blood, he or she should not fast and similarly if a patient has ever suffered from unconsciousness, he should not fast. The patients with chronic hepatitis B or C must take advice from a qualified physician before going for fasting during Ramazan while patients who have already developed complications of hepatitis should not fast, he said.
He added the patients of hepatitis B or C undergoing injection therapy or taking oral medication may fast but the condition is that they never had any complications of the disease. Such patients while going for fasting should consult their physicians as there may be need of change in schedule of their medicines, said Professor Umar. He added these patients while fasting in Ramazan cannot be allowed to discontinue medication including administration of injections.
It is important that hepatitis C virus infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, considered as the end-stage liver disease. Most of the people develop distention of abdomen due to accumulation of water, many present with vomiting of blood as the veins in the food passage rupture due to raised pressure of the portal circulation. It is estimated that 3-4% of Pakistani population is infected with Hepatitis B virus while 5-6% with hepatitis C virus.
Professor Umar suggested that patients with chronic hepatitis B or C or those who are being treated through injections or oral medication, if fast, should not take food containing higher fats specifically at the time of ‘Iftar’. Such patients should avoid eating ‘Pakoras’, Samosas’ or ‘Kachories’ instead they should take juices and fresh fruits including dates at the time of ‘Iftar’, he said.
He added that if a patient of hepatitis B or C is allowed to fast by his physician, the patient must take plenty of fluid at the time of ‘Sehr’ and ‘Iftar’.
The fasting patients of hepatitis B or C should not retain fasting if they feel drowsiness or pain in stomach instead they should break open fast and consult their physician to avoid complications, said Professor Umar.
He added that the patients of hepatitis B or C and those suffering from stomach related diseases including stomach related acidity, dyspepsia or stomach ulcer should avoid oily foods while fasting and if they still feel that they have symptoms of ulcer, they should not fast.
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