Haj is a pilgrimage undertaken by millions of Muslims from around the world every year. Staying healthy and strong during the physically demanding journey is essential. Pilgrims should maintain their energy and physical strength during Haj and require certain safety precautions to be taken. Pilgrims would not want to be consumed by thoughts of discomfort and kept away from his or her primary focus of worship and prayers.
We spoke to Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Jehani, a doctor at Takhasusi Hospital, to enlighten our readers on tips for a healthy Haj. “There are three frequent health issues that pilgrims, or any person engaged in a physically demanding journey might face: infections, food poisoning and heatstrokes,” he said. “The Ministry of Health usually sends out health tips and guidelines to protect from infectious and communicable diseases,” he added.
Pilgrims should pay attention to maintaining personal hygiene and general cleanliness, when performing Haj. “Pilgrims should take good care of their physical hygiene by taking regular showers and washing hands constantly. They should use disposable tissues when needing to cough or to sneeze and then throw them away immediately. It would be even better if pilgrims used face-masks, especially in crowded places, and changed it often,” said Dr. Al-Jehani. “Keep a hand-sterilizer gel to use after coughing, sneezing, bathing, eating and basically touching anything. Paying attention to dental and oral cleanliness is important, in addition to changing clothes often and paying close attention to the cleanliness of your residence on a daily basis. One last thing, pilgrims should avoid spitting on the floor, since it is a hazardous source of infection,” he added.
One of the most common symptoms pilgrims are prone to is diarrhea caused by food poisoning. “Food might be undercooked or exposed for hours in unsafe conditions. These foods are prone to bacterial growth, which can lead to diarrhea, abdominal cramps and feeling weak,” said the doctor. “If you ate something and it tasted funny, if it looked or smelled weird or if you were simply in doubt, throw it out. You can resort to less risky food such as packaged cream cheese, bread, rice, potatoes, canned unopened food, and smoked meats,” said Dr. Al-Jehani.
It is recommended to adjust the diet if the pilgrim gets diarrhea and to avoid all fiber foods such as whole grains, beans, most fruits and vegetables. Fatty or fried food can cause an upset stomach and aggravate the diarrhea. What can you eat instead? White bread, boiled potatoes, white pasta, boiled eggs, bananas, peeled apples, and grilled lean meats such as grilled fish or chicken breast. “Clean fruits and vegetables very well before eating and cooked food should be eaten immediately after cooking, and when need be, it could be kept in the fridge. Avoid storing cooked food in buses for long when moving from one Haj site to another. Never purchase food from unknown sources and street ventures, this is one of the major triggers of food poisoning during Haj. Finally always check for the expiry date when buying canned foods and drinks,” said Dr. Al-Jehani.
In the wake of the recent MERS and Ebola, pilgrims are prone to infection coming from different places around the world. Pilgrims should take the right measures to prevent the infection. “People should wash their hands frequently, particularly before and after certain activities to remove germs and reduce the spread of illness and to sanitize their hands. Always remember to keep your hands away from three key parts of the body: eyes, nose and mouth. These are all easy ways that infection can reach the body,” said Dr. Al-Jehani. “Pilgrims should always check with their doctors before performing Haj if they need to take any injections, vitamins and medications. Pilgrims should also avoid kissing on the cheek, hugging, or shaking hands when greeting others,” he added.
Sunstrokes and heat exhaustions are also major concerns. “Pilgrims should load on fluids from water or fresh juices to help maintain adequate hydration. Water is always the best fluid, both hot weather and physical activity increase the need for water, so one needs to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. You will notice the symptoms of heat exhaustion or sunstrokes — high body temperature, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, thirst, and/or cramping of the abdominal and leg muscles,” said Dr. Al-Jehani. “One must avoid direct exposure to sunlight for long hours. If one experiences symptoms of chills, headache, dizziness, and nausea, move away to a cool area and seek medical help. Avoid exposure to the sun for long, and use a light colored umbrella when necessary,” he added.
