Many fasting people who feel headaches during Ramadan rush to take painkillers after breaking the fast, especially during the first days of the holy month when this feeling may increase.
The head of the Headache and Facial Pain Department at the Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute, Dr. Imad Estimalik, warned against making the mistake of resorting to taking painkillers when a fasting person feels a headache, indicating that excessive use of these painkillers may also be a stimulus and cause of headache, according to the German News Agency. .
He explained, “If people take over-the-counter pain relievers more than two to three times a week, they run the risk of developing medication-overuse headaches, also known as rebound headaches. Therefore, if a person suffers from frequent headaches or migraines, it is best to consult a specialist to obtain preventive strategies that best suit his condition.
Dr. Emad advised simple solutions that can help treat the problem: “Individuals who are prone to frequent headaches during Ramadan should take steps to avoid the known causative factors, in addition to adopting a set of positive habits such as exercising and improving sleep quality to help prevent headaches.” and follow their fast in a healthy manner.
He pointed out that the positive steps that can be taken to prevent headaches during fasting include regular exercise to activate the metabolism. Individuals are advised to walk, do aerobic exercise, or any other exercise about two hours after breaking the fast.
In addition, it is recommended to break the fast gradually instead of immediately eating a heavy meal, as well as making sure to get enough sleep during Ramadan.