Tuesday, May 23, 2017

For most people Ramadan does not only mean fasting without food or water, but also fasting from smoking cigarettes as well as drinking coffee or tea for as long as 15 hours daily.

Gulf News spoke to Dr. Mustafa Saif, Specialist Internal Medicine at Aster Hospital and Head of Emergency Department to explain what happens when someone suddenly stops smoking or consuming caffeine, and how to cope with the issues that come with such drastic changes.

Without caffeine and nicotine, you begin to go through withdrawal, which is the body’s natural reaction to a sudden drastic reduction in the intake of your daily habit. While some of these reactions are manageable, others can affect daily life, mobility and mental health.

Nicotine withdrawal during Ramadan

The substance in cigarettes that people get addicted is nicotine. Smokers who stop during Ramadan may experience their withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, anger and difficulty in concentrating. They might also crave smoking so much, that the first way they break their fast is with a cigarette.

The urge to binge on carb-heavy foods to avoid smoking is another side effect - leading to weight gain. Apart from the physical withdrawal symptoms that may last for many days, the psychological aspect of the urge to smoke may last longer, leading to relapses.

There is also the myth that traditional shisha is a healthier option. That is not true. Shisha Can be more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. Ramadan is a time when people smoke shisha for hours either socialising or breaking their fast in Iftar tents or restaurants.

Dr. Mustafa Saif feels that Ramadan is the best time to quit smoking for good. “In addition to the fasting aspect, the fact that most people do control smoking for over 14 hours is proof of the fact that they can try and quit for good. Long hours of fasting lead to a drop in the nicotine level in the blood making it much easier for smokers to quit”, he told Gulf News Guides.

Caffeine withdrawal during Ramadan

A lot of people rely on coffee to start their day, they feel alert and fresh once they sip their morning coffee. Dr. Saif says, “Caffeine is the most commonly abused drug which is consumable only in certain amounts.”

Caffeine addicts complain of severe headaches during the initial days of Ramadan until they get used to the routine. They experience withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, lethargy, irritability, lack of concentration, insomnia, anxiety and dizziness.

Box: Coping mechanisms for nicotine

•Use nicotine patches during the month of Ramadan as these can control the withdrawal symptoms and help quit the unhealthy habit in time.

•Supplement unhealthy food with healthier options like carrots, cucumber and more fibre to avoid over indulging on the carb-heavy iftar favourites.

•Start the iftar meal with soup to help feel fuller and avoid carbohydrate-rich food

•Take a resolution to quit as nothing is stronger than the will to quit smoking

Box: Coping mechanisms for caffeine

•Start practicing early; caffeine addicts must reduce their daily caffeine intake before the onset of Ramadan.

•A strong cup of coffee or tea during suhoor can help avoid headaches during the day.

By Dona Cherian Guides Writer

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