Smartphones Increase Hemorrhoid Risk by 46%

That casual habit in the bathroom—are you doing it too?

 

Taking newspapers or books to the bathroom is now old-fashioned. For most people today, a bathroom without a smartphone feels like a nightmare. Checking social media, watching YouTube, or reading the news often turns 5 minutes into 10 in no time.

 

But if you’re reading this while sitting on the toilet, stop now. A shocking study shows that this common habit raises the risk of hemorrhoids by nearly 50%.

 

 

A warning for “toilet campers”

 

According to a recent YouGov survey, 57% of Britons use their smartphones in the bathroom. This is hardly unique to the UK.

 

journals.plos.org

 

The problem is that “toilet scrolling” may lead to serious health issues. A study published in PLOS revealed a direct link between smartphone use on the toilet and hemorrhoid risk.

 

Dr. Chetan Lamprasad of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center studied 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy and surveyed their bathroom smartphone habits.

 

· 66% admitted using smartphones in the bathroom.

 

· 37% said they sat on the toilet for more than 5 minutes while using smartphones (compared to only 7.1% among non-users).

 

The team concluded: “Just bringing your smartphone into the bathroom increases the risk of hemorrhoids by 46%.”

 

 

 

Why do smartphones cause hemorrhoids?

 

It’s simple: sitting on the toilet puts pressure on the anal veins, amplified by gravity. Extended sitting while distracted by smartphones keeps blood pooled in the veins, leading to swelling and protruding hemorrhoids.

 

 

Main symptoms of hemorrhoids (NHS):

 

· Itching around the anus

 

· Bright red bleeding during bowel movements

 

· Pain or lumps around the anus

 

· Mucus discharge from the anus

 

 

 

Best prevention: Ban smartphones in the bathroom

 

Experts recommend spending no more than 5-10 minutes on the toilet. Dr. Parag Monjour told CNN: “The best way is simply to ban smartphones from the bathroom.”

 

Starting today, leave your phone outside and focus only on your “main task.” It’s the easiest way to protect your anal health.