Hospitals prepare to support more patients in early days of Ramadan – The National

Hospitals prepare to support more patients in early days of Ramadan – The National

Upset stomachs and headaches prompted by the swift transition to fasting are among the leading causes of a surge in hospital admissions in the first days of Ramadan, an international study has found.

More serious cases of people skipping or delaying taking medication for hypertension or antibiotics to treat infections — as they believe it would be breaking their fast — can also be easily avoided, doctors said.

The analysis of patient numbers covering the first days of Ramadan has been published by health workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Rashid Hospital in Dubai, Dubai Medical College for Girls — as well as hospitals in Libya and the UK.