Your anus is begging you to stop looking at your phone while sitting on the toilet
Chances are you’ve spent some time looking at something on your phone while going to the bathroom. While some may think it’s gross, a new study suggests that this questionable habit could also increase the risk of experiencing an unpleasant condition, right down there.
In a new research study, scientists found that people who use their smartphones while evacuating their bowels are more likely to suffer from hemorrhoids, swollen and uncomfortable veins in the rectum and anus, which can make it harder to pass stool. Why? They think it’s because when you’re looking at your phone, you lose track of time.
“While it is known that one should avoid spending too much time sitting on the toilet, our study adds a specific association with the risk of suffering from hemorrhoids if you use your smartphone there, something that unconsciously prolongs the time spent in that position,” the authors of the study wrote on Wednesday in PLOS-One.
The Why and How of Hemorrhoids
The end of the rectum and anus is lined with blood vessels and soft tissue that act as a cushion to protect the skin from our feces. But when the veins in this region become inflamed and swollen, they become
Hemorrhoids can be external or internal, with external ones causing more discomfort, with symptoms like itching, swelling, and pain. Internal hemorrhoids, on the other hand, cause painless bleeding.
Hemorrhoids are usually not a major concern, and smaller ones often heal on their own, but sometimes they can lead to serious complications if a blood clot blocks one of the affected veins. Larger hemorrhoids are unlikely to disappear without treatment and lifestyle changes. in the US, doctors’ offices or emergency rooms are consulted at least four million times a year because of hemorrhoids.
Common risk factors include chronic constipation (due to straining to pass stool), pregnancy, age, and a diet low in fiber. Spending too much time sitting on the toilet can also cause hemorrhoids because squatting adds pressure on those veins (in addition to the force of gravity). That’s why gastroenterologists generally advise not to exceed five minutes using the toilet.
Tempting Distraction
In this new study, a team of scientists surveyed 125 patients who were scheduled for routine colonoscopies.
43% had hemorrhoids. Two-thirds of the respondents admitted to using their smartphones while in the bathroom, and smartphone use was associated with a 46% higher risk of developing hemorrhoids. Additionally, 37% of smartphone users said they spend more than five minutes sitting on the toilet, compared to only 7% of non-smartphone users in the bathroom. The difference is 1 in 5.
Researchers found no other significant differences in constipation rates between the two groups, indicating that time spent on the toilet was the most contributing factor to the risk for those who use their smartphones there. Smartphone users in the bathroom reported being less physically active than non-users, but they were also younger.
A Simple Change
What we learn here is that it’s best not to use your phone while using the toilet. But maybe it’s easier said than done.
Researchers point out that only half of smartphone users admitted to spending more time sitting on the toilet than if they didn’t use their phones. So it’s very possible that many of us simply don’t notice how busy we are with our phones while using the bathroom because we lose track of time.
“I think what happens is that time passes slower when you look at your phone, and people don’t realize they spend so much time sitting there,” said researcher Trisha Pasricha in a from Beth Israel Deaconess.
For those looking to change their habits to spend less time sitting on the toilet using their phone, I suggest getting a cat. They are great pets, but also bathroom invaders every time you go.
This article has been translated from Gizmodo US by Lucas Handley. you can find the original version.
