Doctors pinpoint the exact amount of time you should spend on the toilet - break this limit and risk painful health problems

Daily Mail​

31-05-2025

Spending 'too long' sitting on the toilet could be putting people at risk of painful and potentially serious health problems, doctors have warned.
While lingering in the bathroom might seem harmless—especially in the age of smartphones and endless scrolling—medical experts warn that more than ten minutes on the loo can trigger a host of health problems.
These include haemorrhoids, also known as piles, a weakened pelvic floor—triggering continence issues—and, in extreme cases, lead to a painful condition called rectal prolapse.
Haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the back passage that can cause itching, discomfort, bleeding, and a persistent feeling of needing to pass stool.
Though often dismissed as minor or embarrassing, haemorrhoids are extremely common—affecting an estimated one in three adults in the UK at some point.
And doctors say the increase in prolonged toilet sitting, often coupled with mobile phone use, is quietly contributing to a rise in cases.
Dr Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said that toilet habits are a key issue when treating patients who present with haemorrhoid symptoms.
'One of the main areas we have to delve into is spending a lot of time on the toilet,' he said in an interview with CNN.
'Nowadays, we're seeing an increase in people passing more time on the toilet, and that is unhealthy for the anorectal organs and the pelvic floor.'
According to Dr Xue and others, the act of sitting in a downward-facing posture on the toilet for extended periods places unnecessary pressure on the veins and tissues of the lower rectum.
Over time, this can lead to the swelling and inflammation that characterise haemorrhoids.
In some cases, the pressure may also contribute to the weakening of muscles that support the rectum and anus, setting the stage for more serious complications.
One of these is rectal prolapse, a condition in which the rectum becomes stretched and begins to protrude from the anus.
While less common, rectal prolapse is far more serious and often requires surgical intervention.
Dr Farah Monzur, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, said the problem can occur gradually in people who regularly spend too long on the toilet and who strain when trying to pass a bowel movement.
She said that many people underestimate the effect of toilet posture on long-term bowel health.
Sitting in the same position for an extended period while distracted—usually by a phone—can encourage people to push harder or for longer than they otherwise would.
This, in turn, puts repeated pressure on the anal and pelvic tissues, causing them to stretch, weaken and eventually fail.
Although there is no universally agreed 'safe' length of time to spend on the toilet, most gastroenterologists agree that if a bowel movement doesn't happen within five to ten minutes, it's best to get up, move around and try again later.
Going for a short walk or gently moving the body can help stimulate bowel motility more naturally, without the need to strain.
Dietary habits also play a role. Low-fibre diets, dehydration and a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to constipation and harder stools, which increase the likelihood of straining.
Doctors recommend eating more fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, beans and whole grains, as well as drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Physical activity, even just light daily movement, can also improve digestion and reduce the chances of constipation.
As for technology, both Dr Xue and Dr Monzur agree that keeping phones and reading material out of the bathroom may be one of the simplest and most effective ways to change toilet habits.
Dr Monzur said that going to the toilet should be treated as a functional event rather than an opportunity to catch up on emails or social media.
'You don't want to go with the mindset that you'll be there for a long time,' she explained.
'Because then you'll want to bring something to keep your mind occupied, and that's what encourages this extended sitting.
'Make sitting on the toilet as uninteresting as possible.'
The NHS lists a number of symptoms that may indicate haemorrhoids, including bleeding after passing stool, mucus discharge, persistent discomfort, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation.
In more severe cases, sufferers may notice a lump in or around the anus, which may be tender or cause pain.
Rectal prolapse, meanwhile, is often accompanied by a visible bulge from the anus, difficulty controlling bowel movements, and sensations of pressure or fullness in the rectum.
While most cases of haemorrhoids can be managed with lifestyle changes, over-the-counter treatments or minor procedures, rectal prolapse typically requires more intensive medical intervention.
In both cases, prevention is far preferable to cure.
Doctors hope that greater awareness of toilet habits—and how modern lifestyles may be unintentionally worsening them—will encourage people to think twice before settling in for a long scroll in the bathroom.