Sonia Gandhi Admitted To Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Senior Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi, has been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, after her health conditions worsened on Sunday, June 15. She was admitted to the hospital due to stomach-related issues, which had been confirmed by the hospital in a statement. She is now kept under observation under the gastroenterology department.

Last month only, Gandhi underwent an MRI scan at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla. She had been admitted to Shimla unit from her private residence in Chharabara with restlessness. The IGMC doctors noted that her blood pressure was "marginally higher than normal", however, she was "normal and stable" during her routine checkup and had "some minor ailments."

Sonia Gandhi's Health History

Last year, in an emotional letter that Gandhi penned down right before the Lok Sabha polls, she noted that she will not be contesting for the polls due to her health and age issues.

The now 78-year-old, wrote, "I am proud to say that whatever I am today, I am because of you and I have always done my best to honour your trust. Now on account of health and age issues, I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election."

Before this too, in 2020, when the world was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi had missed the first part of the Parliament session, as they had gone abroad for Mrs Gandhi's annual check-up.

In 2011, she had gone to the US, for a surgery, the medical condition remains undisclosed. However, the Press Trust of India reported, "It was learnt tonight that the Congress leader had undergone a successful surgery in a US Hospital." In the US, she was admitted to New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

While the medical condition remains unknown, the then Party General Secretary, Janardhan Dwivedi said, that she was "recently diagnosed with a medical condition that required surgery."

While it the cause for the recent medical condition is also unknown, here are some of the common "stomach-related issues" that are related to old age:

As per a 2011 study, titled Gastrointestinal issues in the older female patient, some gastrointestinal issues may be more common in the elderly population and possibly in older women. These issues range from motility disorders, such as fecal incontinence and constipation, to changes in neuropeptide function and its effect on the anorexia of aging.

Another 2019 study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, titled Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Disorder in Older Age notes that GI changes in the elderly are common. "While some changes associated with aging GI system are physiologic, others are pathological and particularly more prevalent among those above age 65 years." notes the study.

An article written by Michael Bartel, MD, PhD, Fairfax, Virginia, aging is a factor in several digestive system disorders.

In particular, older adults are more likely to develop diverticulosis and to have digestive tract disorders (for example, constipation—see Large intestine and rectum) as a side effect of taking certain medications. Also, changes in the gut microbiome (all the bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that live in the digestive tract) with age may be connected to overall healthy aging and may affect obesity, metabolic disorders, inflammation, cancer, depression, or other health issues.

Esophagus

As people age, the strength of esophageal contractions and the tension in the upper sphincter decline (a condition called presbyesophagus), but food movement usually remains unaffected. However, some older adults may develop disorders that disrupt these contractions.

Stomach

Aging reduces the stomach lining’s ability to resist damage, increasing the risk of ulcers, especially with NSAID use. The stomach also becomes less elastic and empties more slowly, though these changes rarely cause symptoms. Acid and enzyme secretion generally stay stable, but conditions like atrophic gastritis, which lower acid production, become more common and may lead to issues like vitamin B12 deficiency or bacterial overgrowth.

Small Intestine

Aging causes little structural change in the small intestine, so nutrient absorption mostly remains intact. However, reduced lactase levels can cause lactose intolerance, and bacterial overgrowth becomes more common, leading to bloating, pain, weight loss, and poor absorption of nutrients like B12, iron, and calcium.

Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder

The pancreas shrinks slightly and may develop some scarring, but its enzyme production remains adequate. The liver and gallbladder undergo structural changes, but these generally don’t impair their digestive functions.

Large Intestine and Rectum

The large intestine changes little with age, though the rectum may enlarge. Constipation becomes more frequent due to slower movement, weaker rectal contractions, reduced activity, medication use, and, in women, pelvic floor weakness—which can also cause fecal incontinence.