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Taking your phone to the toilet might seem harmless, but it could actually increase your risk of haemorrhoids.
TheDigger Intelligence Unit
Using your phone while sitting on the toilet might be more harmful than you realize. A new study found that people who use smartphones in the bathroom have a 46% higher risk of haemorrhoids compared to those who do not.
Researchers found that phone users often spend much longer on the toilet, usually because they get distracted by news or social media. This extra time may increase pressure on anal tissues.
This finding is important in Nigeria, where young people often use their phones everywhere, including in the bathroom. This habit could lead to health problems.
Haemorrhoids Affect Millions Each Year
Haemorrhoids are very common in the United States. Every year, they cause almost 4 million visits to doctors or emergency rooms and cost more than $800 million in healthcare.
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal or rectal area that can cause pain and bleeding.
Doctors and patients have suspected for a long time that using a smartphone on the toilet might cause haemorrhoids, but there has not been much scientific research on this possible link.
Study Examines Bathroom Phone Habits
To investigate this question, Ramprasad and colleagues studied 125 adults undergoing screening colonoscopies. The participants completed an online survey about their lifestyle and what they typically do while using the toilet.
Doctors then checked them for signs of haemorrhoids of the participants reported using their smartphones while on the toilet.
These individuals were generally younger than those who said they did not use their phones in the bathroom—similar to Nigerian youths, who are among the most avid smartphone users globally.
After considering other factors that could affect haemorrhoid risk, such as age, exercise, and fibre intake, the researchers found a clear difference. People who used smartphones on the toilet had a 46 percent higher risk of haemorrhoids than those who did not.
Longer Toilet Time May Play a Role
The researchers also found that smartphone users tend to spend more time sitting on the toilet. About 37 per cent of smartphone users said they spent more than 5 minutes in the bathroom during a single visit. In contrast, only 7.1 per cent of non-users stayed that long.
When participants used their phones, they most often said they were reading news or browsing social media. These activities are similar to the habits of Nigerian youths, who often multitask on their devices.
Interestingly, the study did not find a link between straining during bowel movements and the risk of haemorrhoids, unlike some earlier studies.ce
These findings could help doctors give more practical advice to patients about bathroom habits. Future research might follow patients for longer or test ways to help people use their phones less while on the toilet.
Trisha Pasricha, senior author of the study, explains: “Using a smartphone while on the toilet was linked to a 46 per cent increased chance of having haemorrhoids. We’re still uncovering the many ways smartphones and our modern way of life impact our health.”
She also urged a clear action: “Leave smartphones outside the bathroom and spend only a few minutes on bowel movements.”
For Nigerian youths, who often take their phones into the bathroom, this advice is important. Being constantly connected could harm your health, so think about where you use your phone.
