Those who bring their smartphones into the bathroom may be paying for it in the end… in more ways than one.
A recent clinical study has found that using a phone while sitting on the toilet is linked to a 46% higher risk of developing hemorrhoids.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center surveyed 125 adults ahead of screening colonoscopies. They discovered that two-thirds of participants admitted to using their phones on the toilet, and those who did were significantly more likely to have hemorrhoids than those who kept their devices outside the stall.
After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, exercise habits, fiber intake, and straining, smartphone users showed a 46% increased risk.
The main culprit appears to be time. More than 37% of phone users reported spending more than 5 minutes per visit, compared with only 7% of non-users. Many said they were reading news or scrolling social media.
“The design of smartphones keeps your attention for a prolonged time while you are sitting on the toilet, so you can easily lose track of how long you have been sitting there,” said lead author Trisha Pasricha, The Brighter Side of the News reported. “The general design of mobile apps is to keep your attention and to make it easy for you to lose track of time while scrolling on your smartphone, which could lead to an increase in your risk of developing hemorrhoids.”
Hemorrhoids, swollen veins in the rectum or anus that can cause pain and bleeding, account for nearly 4 million doctor and emergency room visits each year in the United States and generate more than $800 million in healthcare costs.
The researchers stressed that the cross-sectional study does not prove causation. However, they noted that prolonged sitting on a toilet seat increases pressure on pelvic tissues and may contribute to the condition.
Pasricha offered straightforward advice for those hoping to avoid this particular tech-related ailment: leave smartphones outside the bathroom and try to spend no more than a few minutes on a bowel movement.
