Srinagar, J&K: The number of people requiring gallbladder removal surgery due to painful gallstones has been rising at an alarming rate in Jammu and Kashmir. According to experts, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, high consumption of fatty and oily foods, and genetic factors are among the primary culprits behind this growing health issue.
“Gallstones are hardened deposits that form inside the gallbladder, often caused by an imbalance in the substances that make up bile,” explained Dr. Showkat Ahmad. “When the gallbladder cannot properly empty, these stones can develop, leading to severe abdominal pain and potential complications,” he added.
A major risk factor is a lack of physical activity combined with a diet high in unhealthy fats and processed foods. “When we lead sedentary lives and consume excessive amounts of fatty, oily foods, it puts a strain on the gallbladder and liver, increasing the likelihood of gallstone formation,” said Dr. Mushtaq Chalkoo, a surgeon at SMHS.
He stated that obesity has also been strongly linked to a higher incidence of gallstones. “Carrying excess weight, especially around the abdomen, can impair gallbladder function and disrupt bile production. However, there are also studies that reveal that females are at a higher risk of developing gallstones, and genetics play a role as well.”For 50-year-old Ulfat Firdous, a housewife from Srinagar, the decision to undergo gallbladder removal surgery was a difficult but necessary one to alleviate her persistent stomach pain and frequent vomiting. A sonography revealed the presence of gallstones, leading to the recommendation for surgery. However, Ulfat’s case is far from isolated in the Kashmir Valley. “We joke that every female member in our family has stones in her gallbladder,” Ulfat remarked, referring to the fact that her two sisters and three cousins have also undergone gallbladder removal procedures, highlighting the high prevalence of this issue among women in Kashmir.
Women are two to three times more likely to develop gallstones than men, especially during childbearing years. Pregnancy also increases the risk, with more pregnancies correlating with a higher risk. Hormones, particularly estrogen, play a crucial role in this increased risk. Estrogen can lead to higher cholesterol levels in bile, increasing the likelihood of gallstone formation. As a result, hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and the use of oral contraceptives have been linked to an increased risk of gallstone disease.
Data from the free health insurance scheme, SEHAT, under which J&K citizens receive up to Rs 5 lakh for free treatment after hospital admission, reveals a staggering 78,000 gallbladder removal surgeries conducted in just the last two years alone.
Renowned gastroenterologist and former director of SKIMS, Dr. MS Khuroo, shed light on this concerning trend. “The prevalence of gallstone disease in our study was three times greater in women than in men and increased with age in both sexes. The increase in prevalence in women was steeper with advancing age than in men, reaching a peak of 29.14% in the sixth decade,” he stated.
The main reason attributed by Dr. Showkat is the high consumption of fatty food in Kashmir, besides Kashmiris’ love for fried food, which adds to the risk of developing gallstones.
