Right, let’s have a honest conversation about something that’s probably happening in loads of British homes right now. You know that thing where you go to the bathroom with your phone and suddenly realise you’ve been there for ages? Well, scientists have just found out that toilet scrolling might be doing more damage than you think.
A brand new study has come out with some pretty shocking findings that’ll make you think twice about bringing your mobile to the bathroom. We’re talking about real health risks here, not just wasted time.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Researchers in America have just published findings that should make everyone sit up and take notice – preferably not on the toilet. They discovered that people who do toilet scrolling face a whopping 46% higher risk of developing hemorrhoids compared to those who leave their phones outside the bathroom.
That’s nearly half again as likely to develop these painful, swollen veins. Not exactly what you want to hear whilst you’re catching up on TikTok, is it?
The study looked at 125 adults who were having routine colonoscopies. These weren’t young people either – we’re talking about folks aged 45 and older. The doctors asked them loads of questions about their bathroom habits, including whether they brought their phones to the loo.
What they found was pretty eye-opening. About two-thirds of people admitted to toilet scrolling regularly. That’s roughly 66% of the people they asked. So if you’re doing it, you’re definitely not alone.
Why Toilet Scrolling is Becoming a Problem
Here’s where things get interesting. The people who brought their phones to the bathroom spent way more time sitting on the toilet than those who didn’t. We’re talking about 37% of phone users staying put for more than five minutes, compared to just 7% of non-users.
Think about that for a moment. When you’re scrolling through Instagram or reading the news, time just flies by, doesn’t it? What should be a quick two-minute job turns into a 10 or 15-minute session without you even realising it.
Dr. Trisha Pasricha, who led the research, put it perfectly: “It’s incredibly easy to lose track of time when we’re scrolling on our smartphones – popular apps are designed entirely for that purpose.”
And that’s the crux of the problem with toilet scrolling. These apps are literally designed to keep you engaged and scrolling for as long as possible. Your bathroom break turns into an extended sitting session, and your body pays the price.
The Health Risks Are Real
So what exactly happens when you spend too long doing toilet scrolling? Well, sitting on the loo for extended periods puts extra pressure on the veins. Over time, this can cause them to swell and become inflamed, which is exactly what hemorrhoids are.
It’s not just about straining either. The researchers found that the increased risk from toilet scrolling wasn’t down to people struggling more with bowel movements. It was simply the extra time spent sitting that seemed to be causing the problems.
Dr. Sandhya Shukla, a gastroenterologist who wasn’t involved in the study, said she’s been seeing more young patients with hemorrhoid issues lately. She reckons toilet scrolling is one of the major contributors to this trend.
“People who scroll mindlessly on the toilet” are putting themselves at risk, she explained. And when you think about how common smartphones have become, it makes perfect sense that this would be happening more often.
It’s Not Just About Time
There’s another factor that makes toilet scrolling particularly problematic. When you’re looking down at your phone, you tend to hunch over, which isn’t ideal for your posture or for having a proper bowel movement.
Dr. Hima Ghanta, a colorectal surgeon, explained that people “tend to hunch when looking down at their phones, which isn’t ideal for excretion.” The way our bodies are positioned when we’re toilet scrolling can actually make things more difficult and put extra strain on the relevant body parts.
Back in the day, when people had to squat to do their business, they didn’t have as many issues with hemorrhoids. But our modern sitting toilets, combined with the hunched-over position we adopt when toilet scrolling, creates the perfect storm for problems.
The Gross Factor
Let’s be honest about something else here – toilet scrolling is pretty grim when you think about it. Every time you flush, microscopic particles from urine and waste get launched into the air. Your phone is sitting right there, collecting all sorts of nasties.
As one doctor put it, taking your phone into the bathroom “is kind of gross.” You’re essentially carrying those germs around with you for the rest of the day, touching your face, your food, and everything else.
It’s not just about the health risks from sitting too long – it’s about basic hygiene as well. Your phone becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that you really don’t want to be carrying around.
What the Experts Recommend
The advice from doctors is pretty straightforward: stop doing toilet scrolling altogether. Leave your phone outside the bathroom when you need to go. Simple as that.
Dr. Pasricha suggests asking yourself a question if you’re taking longer than usual: “Was it because having a bowel movement was really so difficult, or was it because my focus was elsewhere?”
Most of the time, it’ll be because you got distracted by your phone. The actual business should only take a couple of minutes at most. If it’s taking longer, you’re probably just procrastinating or avoiding going back to whatever you were doing before.
The general rule that doctors recommend is keeping toilet time to under five minutes. That should be more than enough for most people to do what they need to do without putting extra strain on their bodies.
The Bigger Picture
This study on toilet scrolling is part of a growing body of research showing how smartphones are affecting our health in ways we never expected. We already know that looking at screens before bed messes with our sleep, and that phones at the dinner table affect family relationships.
Now we’re finding out that even our most private moments aren’t safe from the negative effects of too much screen time. It makes you wonder what other unexpected health impacts we’ll discover as smartphone use continues to grow.
The researchers admit they need to do more studies to fully understand the connection between toilet scrolling and hemorrhoids. But the evidence they’ve found so far is pretty compelling, and the advice to leave your phone outside the bathroom is just common sense.
Breaking the Habit
If you’re a regular toilet scrolling enthusiast, breaking the habit might be harder than you think. We’ve all become so attached to our phones that the idea of being disconnected for even a few minutes can feel uncomfortable.
But think about it this way – people managed perfectly fine for thousands of years without bringing reading material to the bathroom. Your great-grandparents didn’t need entertainment whilst in the bathroom, and neither do you.
Try leaving your phone in another room when you head to the bathroom. You might be surprised at how quickly you finish up when you’re not distracted. Plus, you’ll be doing your health a favour and reducing your risk of developing painful hemorrhoids.
The study on toilet scrolling might seem a bit unusual, but it highlights something important about our relationship with technology. Sometimes the most everyday habits can have unexpected consequences for our health.
So next time you feel the urge to grab your phone on the way to the bathroom, maybe think twice. Your health will thank you for it.
