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Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The popular toilet habit that could increase your risk of painful haemorrhoids by 46%, experts warn
READING on the toilet can be a good way to pass the time and potentially relax while using the bathroom. Some people find it helps with the matter at hand by offering a gentle distraction and relaxation. 2 Scrolling on your phone while sitting on the toilet could raise your risk of haemorrhoids by as much as 46%, according to a new survey Credit: Getty But a new survey has found scrolling on your phone may have you sitting on the loo for an unhealthy amount of time, increasing the risk of haemorrhoids - swollen veins in your bottom. The new survey, presented recently at the Digestive Diseases Week conference in San Diego, California, involved 125 participants who were receiving a colonoscopy. It found 46 per cent had a haemorrhoid - and 93 per cent said they used their phone on the toilet at least once a week. Participants' age, sex, body mass, exercise, and fibre intake didn't impact the results. About half the group said they read news on the toilet, while 44 per cent said they scrolled social media. Around 30 per cent were emailing or texting. Some of the respondents revealed they spent more than six minutes on the toilet, per visit, and said they believed they were on the toilet longer because of their smartphones. According to a study by eXroid, approximately five million people in the UK experience symptoms from haemorrhoids each year. Also known as piles, haemorrhoids are lumps inside and around the bottom. They're caused by increased pressure in the blood vessels around the anus and rectum, which then lead to swelling and inflammation. Dr. Mike Coates explains what a urinary tract infection is and how you can prevent them This increased pressure can be due to various factors, including straining during bowel movements, constipation, prolonged sitting, and pregnancy. Some doctors advise spending no more than 10 minutes on the toilet. While others suggest spending no more than three minutes. The three minute recommendation is based on a study of 100 patients with haemorrhoids who spent time more time reading on the toilet than age and sex-matched counterparts who didn't have haemorrhoids. 2 Experts have recommended not spending more than three minutes reading on the toilet Credit: Getty Check if you have piles According to the NHS, the symptoms of piles include: Bright red blood after you poo An itchy anus Feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet Mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottom Lumps around your anus Pain around your anus Piles often get better on their own after a few days, and there are things you can do to help, including drinking lots of fluid and eating plenty of fibre to keep your poo soft, wiping your bottom with damp toilet paper, taking a warm bath to ease itching and pain, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine to avoid constipation. The NHS also advises: Not wiping your bottom too hard after you poo Not ignoring the urge to poo Not pushing too hard when pooing Not taking painkillers that contain codeine, as they can cause constipation Not taking ibuprofen if your piles are bleeding Not spending more time than you need to on the toilet A pharmacist may be able to help with symptoms, recommending creams to ease pain, treatment to help constipation, or cold packs to ease discomfort. But if you have piles and your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery and generally unwell, or you have pus leaking from your piles, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The popular toilet habit that could increase your risk of painful haemorrhoids by 46%, experts warn
READING on the toilet can be a good way to pass the time and potentially relax while using the bathroom. Some people find it helps with the matter at hand by offering a gentle distraction and relaxation. But a new survey has found scrolling on your phone may have you sitting on the loo for an unhealthy amount of time, increasing the risk of haemorrhoids - swollen veins in your bottom. The new survey, presented recently at the Digestive Diseases Week conference in San Diego, California, involved 125 participants who were receiving a colonoscopy. It found 46 per cent had a haemorrhoid - and 93 per cent said they used their phone on the toilet at least once a week. Participants' age, sex, body mass, exercise, and fibre intake didn't impact the results. About half the group said they read news on the toilet, while 44 per cent said they scrolled social media. Around 30 per cent were emailing or texting. Some of the respondents revealed they spent more than six minutes on the toilet, per visit, and said they believed they were on the toilet longer because of their smartphones. According to a study by eXroid, approximately five million people in the UK experience symptoms from haemorrhoids each year. Also known as piles, haemorrhoids are lumps inside and around the bottom. They're caused by increased pressure in the blood vessels around the anus and rectum, which then lead to swelling and inflammation. Dr. Mike Coates explains what a urinary tract infection is and how you can prevent them This increased pressure can be due to various factors, including straining during bowel movements, constipation, prolonged sitting, and pregnancy. Some doctors advise spending no more than 10 minutes on the toilet. While others suggest spending no more than three minutes. The three minute recommendation is based on a study of 100 patients with haemorrhoids who spent time more time reading on the toilet than age and sex-matched counterparts who didn't have haemorrhoids. 2 Check if you have piles According to the NHS, the symptoms of piles include: Bright red blood after you poo An itchy anus Feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet Mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottom Lumps around your anus Pain around your anus Piles often get better on their own after a few days, and there are things you can do to help, including drinking lots of fluid and eating plenty of fibre to keep your poo soft, wiping your bottom with damp toilet paper, taking a warm bath to ease itching and pain, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine to avoid constipation. The NHS also advises: Not wiping your bottom too hard after you poo Not ignoring the urge to poo Not pushing too hard when pooing Not taking painkillers that contain codeine, as they can cause constipation Not taking ibuprofen if your piles are bleeding Not spending more time than you need to on the toilet A pharmacist may be able to help with symptoms, recommending creams to ease pain, treatment to help constipation, or cold packs to ease discomfort. But if you have piles and your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery and generally unwell, or you have pus leaking from your piles, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Using Your Phone on The Toilet May Dramatically Increase Risk of Hemorrhoids
Reading on the toilet is something people many do, but the time-sucking powers of smartphones may have us sitting on the ceramic stool for an unhealthy amount of time. A new survey has found that those who use their phones on the toilet face a 46 percent increased risk for hemorrhoids – swollen veins in the lower rectum, thought to be caused by too much pressure. A participant's age, sex, body mass, exercise, or fiber intake did not have an impact on the results. The survey – presented recently at the Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) conference in San Diego, CA – considered 125 participants who were receiving a colonoscopy. More than 40 percent had a hemorrhoid, and 93 percent said they used their phone on the toilet at least once a week. About half that group said they read news on the toilet, whereas about 44 percent said they were on social media, and about 30 percent were emailing or texting, according to presenter Trisha Satya Pasricha of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Some of the respondents said they spent more than 6 minutes on the toilet, per visit, and many said they believed they were on the toilet longer because of their smartphones. A small survey like this one can only show correlations and possible risk factors. Whether or not reading on the toilet actually predisposes someone to hemorrhoids needs further research. In the United States, nearly 4 million doctor and emergency department visits annually are due to hemorrhoids, and yet the condition is poorly understood and tracked. At this point, we only have hypotheses as to how it occurs. In fact, the only US national survey on hemorrhoids was conducted in 1989. No newer data exists at this level. Hemorrhoids are clusters of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and connective tissue in and around the lower rectum, and while everyone has these cushions, which are thought to make pooping easier, when the tissues swell or bleed, they are known colloquially as hemorrhoids. While there are probably a variety of factors that lead to hemorrhoids, scientists generally think they are caused by overstraining, extended defecation time, or frequent bowel movements. Some studies suggest, for instance, that prolonged sitting may be a contributing factor, possibly because sitting on the toilet weakens and dilates blood vessels in and around the anus and rectum. As a result, some doctors advise we spend no more than 10 minutes on the john. But other experts suggest spending no more than 3 minutes. This latter recommendation is based on a study of 100 patients with confirmed hemorrhoids, who spent more time reading on the toilet than their age and sex-matched counterparts without hemorrhoids. Reading on the toilet is hardly a modern phenomenon. In colonial times, it is said that people used to wipe their butts with newspapers because that is what they had on hand. But phones are attention-suckers on a whole other scale, and there's a chance that their use on the toilet is distracting us from the task at hand. In light of this possible risk factor, some health experts have warned that 'toilet scrolling' may be messing with our 'toilet hygiene'. "It may be time to designate the washroom as a smartphone-free zone," wrote a team of researchers in a paper from 2024. Until we know more, the takeaway seems to be: Keep your time on the toilet limited. Going number two should be your number one priority – not scrolling on your phone. The newest survey was presented on May 5 at Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) 2025. Common Parasite Rips The Face From Your Cells to Wear as a Disguise Scientists '3D Print' Material Deep Inside The Body Using Ultrasound The Secret to Happiness Seems to Depend Upon You, Study Finds
Medscape
05-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Using Smartphones on the Toilet Increases Hemorrhoid Risk
Smartphone users spent significantly more time on the toilet than nonusers and had a 46% increased risk for hemorrhoids, according to results of a recent survey. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey in adult patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. Survey questions were designed to assess smartphone habits while using the toilet; responses to Rome IV questionnaires for functional gastrointestinal orders in adults; and other behaviors such as straining, fiber intake, and physical activity levels. The presence of hemorrhoids was assessed through direct visualization as documented in endoscopic reports. TAKEAWAY: Among the 125 participants, 43% had hemorrhoids visualized on colonoscopy. Overall, 66% of respondents used smartphones while on the toilet; 93% of those used a smartphone on the toilet at least one to two times per week or more, and more than half (55.4%) used it most of the time. Smartphone use on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased risk for hemorrhoids ( P = .044) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, exercise activity, and fiber intake. = .044) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, exercise activity, and fiber intake. Participants who used smartphones on the toilet spent significantly more time there than those who did not; 37.3% of them spent more than 6 minutes per visit on the toilet compared with 7.1% of nonsmartphone users ( P = .006), and 35% said they believed they spent more time on the toilet because of their smartphone use. = .006), and 35% said they believed they spent more time on the toilet because of their smartphone use. The most common activity performed while on the toilet was reading 'news' (54.3%), followed by 'social media' (44.4%), and email/texting (30.5%). IN PRACTICE: 'Prolonged engagement with smartphones while using the toilet may be associated with an increased prevalence of hemorrhoids,' the authors wrote. 'Further research is warranted to explore causal relationships and examine behavioral modifications as strategies for preventing hemorrhoid development.' SOURCE: This study was presented on May 5 by Trisha Satya Pasricha, MD, MPH, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, at Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) 2025. LIMITATIONS: It was not possible to draw conclusions about the cause and effect or explore the potential mechanism underlying the association due to the observational nature of this study. DISCLOSURES: No funding information was provided. Credit Lead image: Vadimgozhda/Dreamstime Medscape Medical News © 2025 WebMD, LLC Cite this: Using Smartphones on the Toilet Increases Hemorrhoid Risk - Medscape - May 05, 2025.
