CHP Patient Assessment for Hijama 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) presents for hijama. What is the most appropriate action?
- Proceed with hijama on the legs only
- Refer the patient to their physician before treatment (Correct answer)
- Apply cups over the affected limb to improve circulation
- Perform dry hijama only on the upper body
Correct answer: Refer the patient to their physician before treatment
Active or recent DVT is a contraindication for hijama, and medical clearance is required before proceeding.
Question 2: When reviewing a patient's medications, which drug class most significantly contraindicates wet hijama?
- Antihistamines
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin (Correct answer)
- Antacids
- Beta-blockers
Correct answer: Anticoagulants such as warfarin
Anticoagulants increase bleeding risk, making the incisions of wet hijama potentially dangerous.
Question 3: During a patient interview, the patient discloses she is 10 weeks pregnant. Which hijama points are strictly avoided?
- Points on the upper back only
- Abdominal, lumbar, and pelvic points (Correct answer)
- Points on the arms and legs
- Points on the head only
Correct answer: Abdominal, lumbar, and pelvic points
Abdominal, lumbar, and pelvic points are contraindicated in pregnancy due to the risk of inducing uterine contractions.
Question 4: A practitioner notes that a patient's skin over the intended cupping site shows active eczema. The correct response is to:
- Apply petroleum jelly and proceed
- Cup over a gauze barrier to protect the skin
- Choose an alternative site free of skin lesions (Correct answer)
- Reduce suction pressure and treat the area
Correct answer: Choose an alternative site free of skin lesions
Hijama should never be applied directly over broken, inflamed, or diseased skin; an alternative healthy site must be selected.
Question 5: Which vital sign finding would cause a practitioner to postpone a scheduled hijama session?
- Blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
- Pulse rate of 72 bpm
- Blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Temperature of 98.6°F (37°C)
Correct answer: Blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg
Severely elevated blood pressure (hypertensive crisis range) is a contraindication requiring medical evaluation before hijama.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of recording a patient's hemoglobin or hematocrit values before wet hijama?
- To determine the optimal number of cups
- To assess the patient's capacity to tolerate blood loss safely (Correct answer)
- To calculate the depth of incisions needed
- To identify the best cupping sites based on circulation
Correct answer: To assess the patient's capacity to tolerate blood loss safely
Low hemoglobin or hematocrit levels indicate anemia, making additional blood removal through wet hijama unsafe.
Question 7: A patient reports he fasted for 20 hours prior to his appointment. How should the practitioner respond?
- Proceed immediately as an empty stomach improves treatment
- Reschedule the session and advise the patient to eat a light meal beforehand (Correct answer)
- Perform dry hijama only on this visit
- Increase the session duration to compensate for the fasting
Correct answer: Reschedule the session and advise the patient to eat a light meal beforehand
Extended fasting can cause hypoglycemia and dizziness during wet hijama; patients should have eaten 2–3 hours before treatment.
CHP Patient Assessment for Hijama 2
A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) presents for hijama.
What is the most appropriate action?