Abstract
Objectives:Hajj is the world’s largest gathering to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Wearing cotton made Ihram is a basic and an essential component of Hajj. The aim of this study was to investigate the lung functions among Hajj pilgrims who were wearing cotton towel ihram (ihram with fibers) compared to those who were wearing plain cotton ihram (ihram without fibers).Methods:Ninety male, non-smoker, Hajj pilgrim volunteers with age ranged 20-60 years were selected. Forty five of them wore cotton towel ihram and 45 wore plain ihram. A day before leaving for Hajj and wearing ihram (6th Dhu-al-Hijjah) lung function base line parameters of Hajj pilgrims were determined. Hajj Pilgrims continuously wear ihram from 7-10th Dhu-al-Hijjah. In the afternoon of 10th Dhu-al-Hijjah, after removal of ihram, all parameters were repeated and at the completion of Hajj when all pilgrims return to their homes at Riyadh, all parameters were recorded again.Results:Before wearing Ihram, anthropometric and lung function baseline parameters were recorded, no significant difference was found between the study population. After wearing Ihram on the 7th Dhu-al-Hijjah and its removal on the 10th Dhu-al-Hijjah significant decline in the lung function test parameters was observed among Hajj pilgrims who were wearing cotton towel ihram. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) 4.30±1.18 vs. 5.03±1.41 (p=0.01); Forced Expiratory Flow 25% (FEF-25%) 4.39±1.94 vs. 5.69±2.84 (p=0.03); Forced Expiratory Flow-50% (FEF-50%) 2.93±1.65 vs. 4.07±2.08 (p=0.01); Forced Expiratory Flow-75% (FEF-75%) 1.02±0.70 vs. 1.66±0.94 (p=0.002) compared to those who were wearing plain ihram.Conclusions:Lung function test parameters were decreased among the Hajj pilgrims who were wearing cotton towel ihram compared to those who were wearing plain cotton ihram. The pattern of impairment of lung function shows an obstructive peripheral airway lung involvement. It is suggested to conduct further large sample size studies to confirm the present study observations and reach at better conclusions.
Highlights
Hajj is a unique Islamic ritual where each year about 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj during the period 8-12th Dhu-al-Hijjah (Lunar month).[1]
The physiological variables, age, height, weight were matched between the Hajj pilgrims who were wearing cotton towel ihram compared to those who were wearing plain cotton ihram (Table-I)
Table-I: Comparison of anthropometric parameters between Hajj pilgrims wearing cotton towel Ihram compared to Hajj pilgrims wearing plain Ihram (Pre Hajj data)
Summary
Hajj is a unique Islamic ritual where each year about 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj during the period 8-12th Dhu-al-Hijjah (Lunar month).[1] Wearing Ihram is a basic and obligatory component for all male Hajj pilgrims. They continuously wear the ihram since the early morning of 8th Dhu-al-Hijjah and remove it at the afternoon of 10th Dhu-al-Hijjah; and remaining days. The aim of this study was to investigate the lung functions among Hajj pilgrims who were wearing cotton towel ihram (ihram with fibers) compared to those who were wearing plain cotton ihram (ihram without fibers)
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