Ramadan Health
Practical, evidence informed advice on hydration, nutrition, sleep, energy and exercise while fasting. General information only — not medical advice.
More questions
Why do I get headaches in the first days?
Most often caffeine withdrawal combined with lower fluid intake, rather than hunger. Tapering caffeine in the week before Ramadan usually makes a noticeable difference.
How much should I drink between Iftar and Suhoor?
Spread your intake across the whole evening rather than taking a large volume at once, which is largely passed rather than absorbed. Water is the mainstay; soups, fruit and yoghurt contribute too.
Can I exercise while fasting?
Many people do, usually at reduced intensity and timed shortly before Iftar or a couple of hours after it. Heavy training in the middle of a fasting day, particularly in heat, is not advisable.
Should I change my medication times?
Only with your doctor or pharmacist. Some regimens can be moved safely to the non-fasting hours or switched to a long-acting form, but that is a clinical judgement and never something to improvise.
Is it normal to lose or gain weight in Ramadan?
Both happen. Weight gain is surprisingly common, usually from fried starters, sweet drinks and nightly desserts. Reducing those two or three items generally does most of the work without any counting.
When should I break the fast for health reasons?
If you faint, feel severely dizzy, or show signs of dehydration. Ordinary hunger and thirst are part of the fast; those symptoms are not, and the Qur’an is explicit that God intends ease and not hardship (2:185).
Can I fast if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
The permission to postpone is well established. Whether you make up the days, pay fidya, or both is disputed between the schools. Decide with a doctor and a qualified scholar together, based on your own health.
Does fasting affect sleep?
It reshapes it — Suhoor and Taraweeh both cut into the night. Shifting bedtime earlier in stages and taking a short daytime rest where possible protects total sleep better than trying to keep the usual schedule.