Urgent! Regarding Fasting! - Vascular Disease
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Question
About four years ago, I experienced an arrhythmia, and a month later, a stroke. An MRI revealed that I suffer from "progressive small vessel disease." I also have hypertension and severe sleep apnea (as defined by a sleep lab). I am regularly treated with blood thinners and pills for blood pressure, heart, and arrhythmia, and I am in a stable condition! Until now, I have not fasted according to the instructions of various rabbinical courts, but I always make sure to ask before each Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av fast, and this time I didn't manage to. I would appreciate the rabbi's answer, shlita, before Shabbat: 1. Should I fast? 2. Should I at least refrain from eating? 3. Do I need to ask before each fast, or am I unfortunately exempt forever in my condition?
Answer
Shalom and blessings
1. You are not allowed to fast.
2. A sick person is exempt from fasting on Tisha B'Av, and you are permitted to eat and drink as usual.
3. For all fasts except Yom Kippur, there is no need to ask, you are exempt. Before Yom Kippur, ask a doctor for medical instructions regarding your condition, and then ask a rabbi how to arrange eating and drinking, whether eating in measured amounts is sufficient, or regular eating, etc.