Ramadhan Mubarak

Its Fasting month again, and Muslims from all around the world are fasting during the day to fulfil their religion obligations and more prayers are done, more reciting of the Holy Book. We are quite fortunate this year because the weather has been merciful with occasional rain to counter the previous heatstroke and haze episodes we had previously.

I have been quiet from the blogging scene settling things in real life with new great things coming soon for my beloved patients and friends. I am also testing out a few new products which I will feature in the upcoming entry. Yes, I have been busy with my experiments and evidence collecting as usual, as well as with keeping up with my crazy hectic lifestyle. Well you only live once, don't you? I believe in living to the fullest.

Fasting month is a month of peace for a lot of Muslims as they restrain from food and drink during the day, as well as a lot of negative emotions such as anger, gluttony, etc etc. It is a month where they are encourage to pray more, and give more to the poor. There are a few restrictions to what they can and cannot do. 

Scientifically, fasting has shown to have benefits to the body and no major side effects that even some non-Muslims join the bandwagon of fasting. The abstaining of food for 10-12 hours rests the gut well and although initially give a slight stress response but after awhile reduces cortisol levels. Studies done on mice fasted 10-12 hours a day showed a longer lifespan to those that were not fasted. A collective data study shows that people who fast for the month of Ramadhan shows reduced overall weight by 1-2 lbs a year. Some may argue lack of nutrition but since fasting is voluntary, there is no significant nutrient loss that interferes with pituitary functions reported in all studies. It has also shown to help people achieve inner peace as they are to abstain from negative feelings and behaviour. Despite the benefits, caution and care should be exercised to those with underlying medical conditions related to metabolism such as diabetes and others as there is a change in the body's glycemic levels and bilirubin production.

So for the information of my Muslim friends and patients, here is a list of medical related procedures that does not interfere with fasting:

Excerpt from Circular given out from 1 of the major hospital in town.

Translation:

Things that do not cause fasting to be broken:

1. Eye drops and ear drops usage.

2. GTN placed sublingual as long as not swallowed.

3. Insertion of vaginal pessary, ovulus, vaginal douching or insertion of speculum / digital examination 

    by physician.

4. Urethescope insertion into ureter or urinary bladder irigation.

5. Dental works such as drilling, extraction, polishing, washing, scaling of teeth as ong as nothing is 

    swallowed.

6. Intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous and intra-articular injections unless its 

    nutritional.

7. Donating or receiving blood.

8. Receiving oxygen or general anaesthesia.

9. Usage of drugs / products through skin such as creams, ointments, gels, etc.

10. Withdrawing of blood for investigation.

11. Insertion of tubes / catheter for investigation.

12. Washing the mouth, gargling as long as it is not swallowed.

13. Hysteroscopy or intrauterine device insertion.

14. Oral or rectal endoscopy for investigation or treatment (ERCP/Colonoscopy etc)

15. Biopsy from organs such as liver, skin etc.

16. Usage of nose drops, sprays and inhalers (asthma)

17. Rectal injection, digital examination or colonoscopy.

18. Surgery requiring full general anaesthesia, if the patient wishes to fast.

19. Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

(Reference from IOMS(Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences), The Academy of Fiqh in Jeddah and WHO, Fiqh As-sunnah (Sayyid as-Sabiq) and fatwa from Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi together with European Fatwa Committee).

Happy fasting Peeps..... :)