Monday 13/April/2026 – 12:09 PM
The doctor explained Jamal Shaabanformer director of the Heart Institute, said that there are some repeated medical warnings to citizens in conjunction with the Sham El Nessim holiday and about eating salted fish such as herring and fesikh, especially for those with chronic diseases and the most sensitive groups, because these foods pose health risks due to the high percentage of salts and methods of preparation that may lead to poisoning.
Dr. Gamal Shaaban, former director of the Heart Institute, revealed in exclusive statements to Cairo 24, a list of the five most prominent categories that are prohibited or most at risk from eating fesikh, herring, and other salted fish. These are patients with high blood pressure, as salted fish contains very high levels of sodium, which may lead to a severe and dangerous rise in blood pressure, and increases the risk of heart complications or strokes.
Dr. Jamal Shaaban explains the categories prohibited from eating fesikh and herring
Dr. Jamal Shaaban added that heart patients are more vulnerable to the health risks associated with eating fesikh and herring, especially those who suffer from dilation and weakness of the heart muscle, as excess sodium causes fluid retention in the body, which places an additional burden on the heart muscle and arteries, and may exacerbate the deterioration of their health condition, in addition to kidney patients, as the kidneys play a major role in regulating salts and getting rid of toxins, and eating fesikh and herring greatly exhausts the kidneys, which may lead to exacerbation of chronic kidney disease or cause In urine and fluid retention.
Dr. Jamal Shaaban added that he advises pregnant women to avoid salted fish completely, as high salinity may affect blood pressure and increase the risk of preeclampsia, and the possibility of bacterial contamination such as salmonella, which poses a danger to the mother and fetus, in addition to patients with the digestive system and liver, especially since highly salty and fatty foods may cause severe stomach disorders such as bloating, acidity, and cramps, in those who suffer from stomach ulcers or colon problems. Liver patients are also exposed to severe complications due to toxins and fats that affect the stomach. Liver functions.
Dr. Jamal Shaaban, former director of the Heart Institute, stressed that in addition to the main groups, there are other people who must be extremely careful or refrain from eating fesikh and herring, and they are children because their immune systems are more sensitive, and salted fish may cause their salt levels to rise or them to suffer from food poisoning, and the elderly, and with age, the body’s ability to regulate salt levels decreases, and they often suffer from chronic diseases that make them more vulnerable to complications, and patients with chest allergies, as these fish increase their chances of developing allergic attacks.
