Arthritis:
Those people who suffer from arthritis of their hips or knees or ankles should lose weight if they are overweight. They must have treatment for their arthritis long before the departure date so that the inflammation has time to settle.
Your Doctor is the best person to ask for guidance on Medication. Please do not take advice from people who are not properly qualified. Once the inflammation has settled, then light exercises to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint would help tremendously. Again be guided by a Doctor with the help of a Physiotherapist.
Care of the back:
Most people would travel with heavy suitcases when going overseas. Going to Makkah is no exception. In most cases, it will be found that most of the clothes taken will not be used, but they were taken just in case they were needed. It is not necessary to travel with heavy luggage but if it is necessary, then care must be taken to lift the bags correctly. Back strain is a common problem that occurs. Bags have to be taken out of the house and into the trunk of a car. At the airport, they must be taken out of the trunk and hopefully put onto a trolley to be wheeled to the departure counter. If no trolleys are available, these bags will need to be carried.
The same process occurs on arrival, the difference being that now the bags will have to be carried into the place of accommodation, e.g., a hotel. If it is necessary to buy new luggage, then it would be better to spend a little more and acquire bags with wheels. These can be pulled along without being carried.
Proper lifting of heavy articles involves not bending the back but bending the knees and lifting with a straight back. It will be better to allow others who are not going to Haj to do the lifting, e.g., relatives who are not going, hotel staff, etc.
If a back problem already exists, extra care needs to be taken not only in lifting but also in sitting in awkward positions or on very low chairs, bending down and twisting awkwardly, etc.
A back injury or aggravation of a back injury takes two to three weeks to settle. Sustaining a back injury on the way to the Holy Land or in the Holy Land may compromise your Umrah and Haj. Please be extra careful.
Constipation:
Due to a change in the diet and the hot weather resulting in water depletion, constipation can be a real problem. Constipation may result in haemorrhoids and bleeding both of which can be very distressing. It can affect normal activities resulting in loss of valuable time in Makkah and Medinah. Maintaining a high fibre diet, like a bran or wheat cereal, wholemeal bread, dried fruit, not eating an abundance of fried or fatty foods, drinking adequate amounts of water can avoid constipation.
Asthma:
Asthma suffers must ensure that their asthma is well controlled with preventative medications. They must ensure that they take an adequate supply of their medications with them including preventative medication, broncho-dilator inhalers and tablets. If well controlled, asthma does not pose a problem during Hajj and Umrah.
Both Makkah and Medinah have a dry climate. There is no pollen in the air. Due to the dry climate, house dust mite population is also less. Those with hyper-reactive airways sensitive to other pollutants should ensure that they control their asthma well.
Skin Care:
Because of the harsh, dry conditions that can be encountered, it would help to prepare one's self. Arabia, being in the Northern Hemisphere has it's winter when we have our summer. Hence, our bodies are confronted by a big change in the external environment. If one lives in a humid climate, the dry conditions will have a major effect on one's skin. One's skin will not have the time necessary to acclimatise. Cracking of the skin is common. If this happens on the feet, it can cause deep fissures resulting in pain and discomfort with the possibility of infection developing. This is especially important for diabetics.
A good moisturiser applied two or three times a day starting as soon as possible after arrival in Arabia will help the skin retain moisture and slowly acclimatise. The moisturiser need not be expensive. Aqueous Cream or Vaseline, which is cheap, applied frequently, will do. To allow the feet to retain the moisture in the skin, it may be necessary to wear a pair of socks to avoid the evaporation of water. Extra care should be paid to the feet, as performing Hajj with painful feet would add an unnecessary burden. A suitable heel balm will also help to smoothen out the thick skin around the heels. Good care must be taken of the skin, especially the skin on the feet.
Swelling of feet:
Due to the intense heat, it is not uncommon for the feet to swell. In healthy people, this is transient. As the body acclimatises to the hot conditions, the swelling should subside. If one suffers from any illness,especially heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, then one should seek the advice of a Doctor. Acclimatisation usually takes about 7 to 10 days. Those that spend a short time in Arabia before Haj may find their feet swollen during Haj. Not much can be done about this, as the body needs time to adjust. It would help to elevate the legs at every opportunity so that the dependent fluid in the feet can go back into the circulation. Avoid standing for long periods. Walking would help settle the swelling.
Fungal Infections of the feet:
Fungal infections of the feet present as either a dry scaly very itchy rash or little fluid-filled blisters between the toes or under the feet or around the heel. Fungal infections thrive in moist conditions, as between the toes or under the feet after wudhu. The fungi cannot grow without moisture. It is therefore a good habit to dry the feet and the areas between the toes and to wear open sandals were possible so the feet may dry out. If a fungal infection is present, this must be attended to especially if diabetes is present. Fungal infections of the feet resulting in cracks or maceration of the skin can get secondarily infected with other bacteria causing a spreading cellulitis. This can take up to a week to resolve with antibiotics and leg elevation. This is something that one does not need during Umrah or Haj! Fungal infections can be treated with an anti-fungal agent until cured.
Please consult a Doctor for the most appropriate one to use. As a prophylaxis and also as treatment in some cases, a cheap anti-fungal in the form of Whitfield's Ointment (Fungistatin ointment) can be useful. More expensive preparations, which are cosmetically better, are available and may be used not only on the feet but also inside shoes and sandals where the fungus may still be present.
Treatment must start well before departure so that the infection can be treated adequately. Only prophylactic treatment may then be needed. However, due to the dry, hot conditions in Arabia, the custom of wearing open sandals and the lack of moist carpets in the Mosques, fungal infections are not very common.
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