Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Precautions must be taken when the longest fasting day arrives on June 21, say city doctors.
According to the Oman Astronomical Society, (OAS) citizens and residents will fast for 15 hours and eight minutes on Tuesday.
“There will not be much difference as people are already fasting for more than 15 hours now,” Mohammed Yahya Al Hijri, member of Oman Astronomical Society, said.
Doctors, however, said that precautions should be taken by fasting people. “People should drink plenty of water before fasting and should avoid going out in sun while they are fasting,” Dr Pradeep Maheswari, specialist of internal medicine at the Atlas Hospital, Ruwi said.
Time difference
He also advised people to eat light and non-oily food during fasting. The sun will rise at 5.21am and set at 7.01pm in Muscat on Tuesday. Sunrise and sunset has a time difference of a few minutes in cities across the Oman.
“But people will start fasting from 3.53am and will be able to break their fast at 7.01 pm on Tuesday,” according to the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
Known as the summer solstice, this phenomenon occurs when the Earth’s North Pole points right at the sun. At this time of the year, people living in the north of the Arctic Circle will see the sun all day and night, while those in Antarctica will not see the sun at all.
Doctors also said eating heavily and uncontrollably during Iftar, as well as the type of food eaten, could cause major complications, such as severe gastrointestinal problems, abdominal upsets, abdominal discomfort, among many other ailments when you are fasting for long hours.
“So you have to take care of your food especially during Ramadan and if someone falls sick they should consult the doctors immediately,” Maheshwari said.
Residents, however, said that they have got adjusted to the new routine.
“So fasting for more a few minutes doesn’t really affect us on the longest day,” said Mohammed Akram, an Indian expat who has been fasting in Oman for few years.
