Using your cell phone on the toilet can increase your risk of hemorrhoids.
A study from Harvard Medical School links phone use with spending more time on the toilet and being more likely to suffer from these types of conditions.
BarcelonaA few years ago, magazines, newspapers, and books were the main allies when going to the bathroom, but recently, the cell phone has become an indispensable companion for many people. And this has its consequences: research published in the scientific journal PLOS One warns that using a cell phone while on the toilet may be associated with a higher risk of developing hemorrhoids. The key to the study, conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is that users who take their cell phone to the bathroom end up spending more time there than those who don't, and that this may contribute to suffering from this gastrointestinal condition.
The study was conducted with 125 adult patients with diverse characteristics who underwent a screening colonoscopy to detect hemorrhoids. They also answered several questions about their bathroom habits, such as whether they take their cell phone with them, but also whether they eat a lot of fiber or exercise a lot. The vast majority of patients, up to 66%, take their cell phone to the toilet. And they are younger (average age 55.4 years) than those who don't (average age 62.1 years). This ultimately translates into an increase in the time spent sitting at the toilet: 37% of cell phone users spent more than five minutes there, while only 7.1% of patients who don't pick up their phone spend that amount of time there. What were the cell phone users doing during that time? Reading the news, 54.3%, and checking social media, 44.4%.
After ruling out the effect of several factors such as age, sex, body mass index, physical exercise, and fiber intake, using a phone on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids. Furthermore, it should be noted that cell phone users also exercised less per week than the other group. This fact could indicate a higher level of technological addiction that can end up leading to a more sedentary lifestyle in general, which could be an additional risk factor for hemorrhoids.
Prolonged sitting
However, the study authors suggest that prolonged sitting on a standard toilet seat, without pelvic floor support, increases pressure on hemorrhoidal pillows. The study distinguishes between sitting on the toilet and other forms of prolonged sitting (e.g., in an office chair or on the couch at home). These other situations usually require some form of pelvic floor support, something a standard toilet seat does not offer. Contrary to historical beliefs that associated hemorrhoids with straining during defecation, this study did not find it to be a risk factor..
The study authors' main recommendation is to limit phone use on the toilet to less than five minutes to reduce the risk of hemorrhoids. They also suggest implementing educational interventions to promote healthier bathroom habits. In this regard, the researchers suggest that healthcare providers should inquire about phone use patterns during conversations about gastrointestinal health.
