Ramadan, the ninth month in Islam’s lunar calendar, is essentially the most sacred time of the yr for Muslims. It’s when the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims observe Ramadan by rising our worship, which incorporates prayers, giving to charity, and fasting from food and drinks from dawn to sunset. It’s a difficult however spiritually fulfilling month.
There may be a lot knowledge in Islam, together with by way of well-being. Along with the non secular advantages this month brings us, one meta-analysis suggests that fasting for Ramadan can also result in constructive bodily well being modifications. However for individuals taking sure drugs, significantly these with continual situations (together with psychological well being diagnoses) that want extended and constant care, fasting for Ramadan could also be contraindicated—that means, it’s not protected for these individuals, or they could want remedy changes to securely quick. For those who’re taking a prescription med for a long-term situation, you may nonetheless have a significant and observant month with out doubtlessly throwing your well being off beam.
Don’t attempt to alter your drugs by yourself—for each medical and non secular causes.
At the beginning: Don’t self-adjust any of your prescription drugs. For those who can’t seek the advice of a well being care supplier that can assist you make a plan earlier than Ramadan begins, it’s greatest to proceed taking your drugs as prescribed reasonably than fasting—and that is in sync with the spiritual steering too. If fasting have been to trigger you hurt, it turns into haram (forbidden). That features if forgoing remedy or altering the schedule you are taking it on exacerbates an sickness or signs of a well being situation.
It’s necessary to honor your bodily and psychological well-being. As a Muslim, your well being is your non secular precedence: In accordance with a hadith (saying of the Prophet), “Your physique has a proper over you.” “Fasting shouldn’t be imagined to be a hardship,” Mona Masood, DO, a Philadelphia-based board-certified psychiatrist and board member of the Muslim Wellness Basis, tells SELF. If a physician advises you to not quick due to medically essential drugs, know that it then turns into your spiritual obligation to heed that recommendation not to quick. Islam is a faith of moderation and sustainability; because the Prophet Muhammad mentioned in a hadith, “Faith is straightforward, and nobody overburdens himself in his faith however he can be unable to proceed in that method”—that means, don’t go to excessive ends that may hurt you to apply religion, as a result of that’s really antithetical to being devoted.
Examine with a well being care supplier about potential choices for altering your remedy routine.
Sheeba Rahman, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist based mostly in Florida, tells SELF she advises individuals to keep in mind that their particular person well being wants are distinctive, and that it’s necessary to not generalize medical recommendation. “Anybody taking prescription remedy ought to seek the advice of with a physician earlier than fasting,” Dr. Rahman says. She explains that it’s necessary to inform your physician precisely when and for the way lengthy you’ll be fasting to allow them to make changes accordingly, because the dosage power, frequency, or timing could change when fasting. Some drugs could possibly be taken with suhoor or iftar, so you may nonetheless quick, however at all times examine with a prescribing physician first.
Ali Nasir, DO, FACOI, a board-certified inner drugs doctor based mostly in Pompano Seashore, Florida, tells SELF he recommends a “pre-Ramadan evaluation” as step one for anybody with well being issues who intends to quick. Mainly, examine in with a well being care supplier about your plans and see what changes you may have to make to your schedule as a way to maintain your well being wants met. “If drugs are long-acting, your doctor could advise you to vary the time you are taking your remedy so you may take it throughout non-fasting hours,” Dr. Nasir says. Some doses and regimens for medicine taken often, like these for sure cardiological situations, might be simply adjusted to align to your quick (however, once more, don’t make this name by yourself with out the recommendation of a well being care supplier).