Tips For Fasting Safely

Stop Fasting if Feeling Sick

In the short-term, intermittent fasting may sometimes trigger symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. Less commonly, patients have experienced low blood pressure and heart rhythm abnormalities as a result of fasting. If patients notice any of these, the fast should be discontinued immediately, and the patient should see their doctor for an evaluation. To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, care should be taken when getting out of bed and when standing up from a seated position. The patient may want to sit on their bed with their feet on the floor for a few minutes before slowly attempting to stand up. Monitoring blood pressure and pulse readings regularly during a fast can help individuals understand how their heart is affected by their particular fasting regimen, and these measurements can be taken with an automatic blood pressure monitor at home. If the patient experiences heart palpitations or a sensation of fluttering in the chest during or after a fast, they should obtain urgent medical attention. Patients who have a history of heart rhythm abnormalities or low blood pressure are generally advised not to fast.

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