Fasting and Hydration: Why You May Get Headaches and Dizziness in Vrat

Vrat mein sar dard? Chakkar? Kai baar wajah sirf paani ki kami hoti hai. Hydration during fasting is easy to overlook: when you eat fewer meals, you also take in less fluid, and nine nights of garba in Mumbai's humidity add to the loss. This guide explains the signs of dehydration, simple habits that help, and who should speak to a doctor before fasting.

Why fasting can leave you short of fluid

• Food supplies a good share of your daily fluid, so fewer meals can mean less water overall.
• It is easy to forget to drink when you are busy with pujas, work and preparations.
• Heat, humidity and hours of dancing make you sweat more.
• Tea and coffee, which many people rely on, can make you pass more urine, and sugary drinks do not hydrate as well as water.
• Rock salt (sendha namak) is still salt, which matters if you have high blood pressure.

Signs you may be dehydrated

• Thirst, a dry mouth and lips.
• Headache, tiredness or difficulty concentrating.
• Dizziness, especially when you stand up quickly.
• Dark yellow urine, or passing much less than usual.
• Muscle cramps, or a racing heartbeat.

These signs can have other causes too, so they are a prompt to drink and to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Simple habits that help

• Sip through the day instead of waiting until you are thirsty.
• Choose water first. Coconut water and buttermilk can help if your vrat and your health allow them.
• Add fluid-rich foods, such as cucumber, watermelon and other fruit, if your vrat permits.
• Go easy on tea, coffee and sugary drinks, which can add to fluid loss or sugar load.
• Drink before and after garba, and take short breaks in shade or a cooler spot.
• Dress lightly, and avoid long hours in the sun.

Vrat traditions differ. If your vrat limits water or you are unsure how to manage safely, please talk to your doctor before the festival and plan it with them. Do not push through symptoms.

Who should be extra careful

• People with diabetes, since high sugar makes you pass more urine, and some diabetes medicines increase fluid loss.
• People taking water tablets or blood pressure medicines.
• People with heart or kidney conditions, who may be advised to limit fluids and should not follow general advice without asking.
• Older adults, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do not stop or change any medicine on your own, including during a fast. Ask your doctor in advance what to do if you feel unwell.

When it is more than thirst

Seek medical help immediately if you faint, become confused, have very little or no urine for many hours, have a fast heartbeat with dizziness, chest pain, or repeated vomiting or diarrhoea.

A simple daily pattern

There is no perfect schedule, but spreading fluids across the day is easier than trying to catch up in the evening. One pattern many people find workable:

• A glass of water soon after waking, if your vrat allows.
• A glass or two through the morning, and another in the afternoon.
• Water before you head out for garba, and small sips while dancing.
• A glass afterwards, and a sip or two before bed, without overdoing it late at night.

Keep a bottle where you can see it. If you find you have gone hours without drinking, that is a signal to pause and sip, not to gulp a large amount at once.

If you are not sure what suits you, note how you feel and what you drink for a couple of days and share it with your doctor. That gives them something concrete to work with.

Keep it simple all year

Good hydration helps energy, digestion and concentration well beyond the festival. You can read more about our approach to metabolic health.

Apni bhi suno. If you are in Ghatkopar East or nearby, you can book a consultation online or call 081043 74386.

Disclaimer: This article is for general education and is not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your doctor before fasting or changing your fluids, especially if you have a health condition or take regular medicines.