Smartphone users be warned: taking your mobile to the toilet may be contributing to some adverse health effects.
According to a recent study conducted in the United States, scientists suspect that people who like to scroll when they’re on the loo have an increased likelihood of developing haemorrhoids.
With approximately 5 million people in the UK experiencing this uncomfortable condition each year, the findings of this study suggest that simple changes to your toilet habits can help reduce the risk.
The study, published in PLOS One this month, looked into the toilet habits of 125 patients who were attending colonoscopy appointments and whether they used their phones when going to the toilet.
Taking into consideration other factors that can influence haemorrhoid risks, researchers concluded that people who used their smartphones on the toilet had a 46 per cent higher risk of developing haemorrhoids than those who didn’t use their phones.
“Using a smartphone while on the toilet was linked to a 46 percent increased chance of having haemorrhoids,” said Trisha Pasricha, senior author of the study.
“We're still uncovering the many ways smartphones and our modern way of life impact our health. It's possible that how and where we use them—such as while in the bathroom—can have unintended consequences.”
Pasricha added: “This study bolsters advice to people in general to leave the smartphones outside the bathroom and to try to spend no more than a few minutes to have a bowel movement. If it's taking longer, ask yourself why. Was it because having a bowel movement was really so difficult, or was it because my focus was elsewhere?”
The study asked people to complete a questionnaire that shed further light on the toilet trends before an endoscopist evaluated the patients for haemorrhoids.
Through the survey, researchers determined that people who used their smartphones on the toilet tended to spend more time there, with more than one-third sitting for more than five minutes at a time.
Some of the most common habits included reading the news and browsing social media, with prolonged toilet use potentially contributing to more pressure in people’s anal muscles, which causes haemorrhoids.
“It's incredibly easy to lose track of time when we're scrolling on our smartphones—popular apps are designed entirely for that purpose,” Ms Pasricha added.
“But it's possible that constantly sitting longer on the toilet than you intended because you're distracted by your smartphone could increase your risk of haemorrhoids. We need to study this further, but it's a safe suggestion to leave the smartphone outside the bathroom when you need to have a bowel movement.”
What are haemorrhoids?
Haemorrhoids, also referred to as piles, are essentially lumps that develop around a person’s anus as a result of increased pressure on blood vessels in the rectum.
According to the NHS, they can present with various symptoms, such as pain, bleeding, and itchiness.
Most cases get better by themselves, but you can also buy creams to alleviate any discomfort.
People are encouraged to see their GPs if issues persist or if they notice any unusual changes around the anus.
