There’s nothing like closing the bathroom door for a brief escape. For years, the toilet has doubled as a reading nook or a place for a few stolen moments of peace. But smartphones have turned those breaks into longer stays, with some unexpected health consequences.
A new study shows that bringing your phone to the bathroom increases the risk of hemorrhoids. These swollen veins in the rectum or anus can cause pain, itching, and bleeding. The culprit isn’t straining but the extra time spent perched on the toilet.
Smartphone use on toilet increases risk of haemorrhoids. Image: RTE
Researchers surveyed 125 adults undergoing colonoscopies, asking about bathroom phone use, diet, exercise, and habits. Two-thirds admitted to scrolling while sitting down, mostly reading news or browsing social media. Those who did stayed on the toilet far longer, and had a 46% greater risk of hemorrhoids.
The reason? Sitting on a toilet seat places the rectum at a lower angle than a chair, reducing pelvic support and allowing blood to pool. Add the hunched posture of looking at a phone, and the pressure worsens. “When you’re sitting on an open toilet bowl, you have no pelvic floor support,” explained study author Dr. Trisha Pasricha of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Experts say this may be contributing to the rise of hemorrhoid diagnoses in younger generations, who rarely go anywhere without their phones. Other factors like diet and obesity still play a role, but scrolling on the toilet is emerging as a key trigger.
The solution is simple: don’t bring your phone into the bathroom. If you do, limit your time, ideally no more than three to five minutes. Setting a timer, or stopping after a couple of TikToks, can help. As colorectal surgeon Dr. Hima Ghanta put it: “There are many things in life we should slow down for. Using the toilet isn’t one of them.”
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