According to a new study, smartphone users spend more time on the toilet than those who do not use them. This can increase your risk of haemorrhoids, also known as piles, which are painful, swollen veins in the anal or rectal area.
Senior author Trisha Pasricha of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the United States stated, "Using a smartphone while on the toilet was linked to a 46% increased risk of having haemorrhoids.
Our understanding of how smartphones and modern lifestyles affect our health is still evolving. It is possible that how and where we use them, such as in the bathroom, will have unintended consequences. The researchers enrolled 125 adults who were already being screened for bowel cancer.
The participants completed an online survey about their lifestyle and toilet habits, and doctors checked them for haemorrhoids. Two-thirds of the group reported using smartphones on the toilet, and they were generally younger than non-users.
Smartphone users spent significantly more time on the toilet, with 37% spending more than five minutes at a time, compared to 7.1% of those who did not use their devices in the restroom. Reading the news and scrolling through social media were the most frequently reported smartphone activities while on the toilet.
Reading emails, texting, playing games, and watching videos were all recorded. Interestingly, unlike some previous studies, straining while going to the loo was not associated with an increased risk of haemorrhoids.
Dr. Pasricha added, "This study reinforces advice to people in general to leave smartphones outside the bathroom and try to spend no more than a few minutes having a bowel movement." If it is taking longer, ask yourself why.
"Was it because having a bowel movement was extremely difficult, or was it because my attention was elsewhere? It's extremely easy to lose track of time when scrolling through our smartphones; popular apps are specifically designed for this purpose."
According to the NHS, approximately half of the UK population experiences one or more haemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Eating a lot of fiber and drinking plenty of water can help you avoid the condition.
