A recent study out of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, published in PLOS One, reveals a striking link between smartphone use on the toilet and an increased risk of hemorrhoids by nearly 46 percent primarily due to prolonged sitting time rather than traditional factors like straining.
Researchers surveyed 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopies, collecting data on lifestyle, exercise, fiber intake, bowel habits, and whether they used their phones during bathroom visits. In this group, 66 percent admitted to using smartphones while on the toilet, compared to just 7 percent of non-users who stayed longer than five minutes per visit . Among those who used phones, 37 percent sat for more than five minutes per session, compared to only about 7 percent of non-users .
Even after adjusting for variables such as age, sex, body mass index, fiber intake, exercise, and straining during bowel movements, smartphone users still had a 46 percent higher risk of hemorrhoids . Notably, classic risk factors like straining did not significantly correlate to increased hemorrhoid risk in this study, suggesting that duration of sitting may be a more critical factor .
Lead researcher Dr. Trisha Pasricha emphasized that it’s easy to lose track of time when absorbed in our phones, but the resultant prolonged sitting can elevate pressure on the anal tissues and precipitate hemorrhoid development .
Doctors are suggesting practical steps to mitigate this risk. A playful “two-TikTok limit” meaning limit social media scrolling to less than two short videos has been proposed to help reduce time spent on the toilet . Experts generally recommend keeping bathroom sessions brief ideally no longer than five to ten minutes and avoiding phone use altogether during bowel movements .
Hemorrhoids a common condition caused by swollen blood vessels in the rectal area are widespread and often distressing, leading to millions of medical visits and significant healthcare costs annually . While factors such as aging, obesity, dietary habits, and constipation are well-known contributors, this study brings fresh attention to how modern behaviors like bathroom phone use might also play a substantial role .
Further research is needed to determine whether repeated, prolonged toilet-phone habit definitively contributes to hemorrhoid development and whether behavioral modifications, such as timers or phone-free bathroom spaces, could be effective prevention strategies .
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