A U.S. study found that using smartphones on the toilet increases hemorrhoid risk by encouraging prolonged bathroom sitting.
A new study has linked smartphone use during toilet visits to a higher risk of developing hemorrhoids, raising concerns about a common modern habit. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston surveyed 125 adults undergoing colonoscopies and found hemorrhoids in 43 percent of participants. Published in PLOS One, the study revealed that 66 percent of adults reported using their phones in the bathroom, with smartphone users 46 percent more likely to develop hemorrhoids than non-users.
Time spent on the toilet appeared to be the key factor: over one-third of smartphone users stayed longer than the recommended five minutes, compared to just 7 percent of non-users. “It’s incredibly easy to lose track of time when we’re scrolling on our smartphones — popular apps are designed entirely for that purpose,” said senior author Trisha Pasricha. The researchers urged limiting bathroom phone use, noting prolonged sitting increases pressure on rectal veins, potentially leading to painful hemorrhoids.
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