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Hospital sees rise in stomach ailments during Ramadan

Dubai - Abdominal pains can also be due to the excessive consumption of carbohydrates at Iftar time, say doctors

The first few days of Ramadan saw an influx of patients seeking emergency medical care at Medeor 24x7 Hospital in Dubai for stomach ailments. Over 17 per cent of the patients that reported to the emergency department complained of acute gastritis and gastroenteritis. Some patients also sought treatment for dizziness and nausea as a result of fasting long hours in the summer heat.
"Acute gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining and is usually brought on in Ramadan by overeating. Our stomach remains in active for the whole day during Ramadan and then come Iftar time, people tend to eat large quantities of food within a short frame of time," said Dr Mohammed Berer, medical director at the hospital. "This in turn aggravates the stomach, causing abdominal pains and in extreme cases, vomiting. It is advisable to break the fast with dates and laban to replenish the body with vitamins and minerals. Follow this with a warm soup and a light dinner after about an hour.
"Abdominal pains can also be due to the excessive consumption of carbohydrates at Iftar time. This causes bloating which results in stomach pain."
Another stomach ailment the hospital sees is gastroenteritis.
"Gastroenteritis is a bacterial infection of the stomach and can result in severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases the symptoms can be so severe, the patient will need to be hospitalised for two to three days," said Dr Berer. "This type of bacterial infection can often be found in food - a fasting person's stomach is extra sensitive to bacteria as it has not been digesting food for extended periods of time. With many opting to indulge for Iftars at restaurants and hotels around the city, bacterial infections can easily spread.
"Sometimes food is not cooked properly at home and this too can result in the spread of infections. It is important to have well-cooked light meals at Iftar and Suhoor."
Dr Berer advised residents to exercise restraint at Iftar and Suhoor as this can lead to unnecessary health complications. 
"Eating excessively takes away from the true spirit of Ramadan and when it results in sickness, it leads to bed rest or a hospital stay which would again affect one's spiritual activities during the month," he said. "Use this Month to adopt healthy eating patterns and change one's nutrition habits." 
reporters@khaleejtimes.com