India, Sept. 8 -- The festive season is on the way, beginning in September with Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Karwa Chauth, Chhath Puja, and the list of festivals goes on. Many of those who observe these festivals keep a fast as a way to show devotion to the deity being worshipped. But fasting means long hours of going without eating (sometimes even without drinking water.) This can adversely affect the body's functions. It is particularly more so for people with diabetes and hypertension. What's the fix for this? If you have these chronic ailments, should you not fast then?

Dr Akash Shah, vice president-technical at Neuberg Diagnostics, assured that it is not entirely impossible. But he cautioned that fasting is not entirely r...