NEW DELHI — A well-known medical expert is warning against a behavior that seems harmless in a society when people are always on their smartphones, even in the most private places. Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist who has trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford, has posted a long warning on Instagram about the hidden dangers of using phones while on the toilet.
Dr. Sethi says that this behavior is more than just a distraction; it might be bad for your gut health and your general health. He gives seven important reasons why you shouldn’t take your phone into the bathroom:
Higher Risk of Hemorrhoids: Dr. Sethi said that a study found that adults who use their phones while on the toilet are 46% more likely to get hemorrhoids. This is true no matter what else is going on, including food, age, or activity.
Long periods of sitting: Smartphones are made to be interesting, and they often make people lose track of time. Because of this, 37% of phone users spend more than five minutes in the bathroom, whereas only 7.1% of non-users do. Sitting for a long time puts more strain on the tissues of the anus.
Dr. Sethi says that spending more than five minutes on the toilet is worse than straining since it raises the chance of hemorrhoids much more. The longer you sit, the more pressure builds up in the veins in your rectum.
No support for the pelvic floor: A toilet seat doesn’t support the pelvic floor like a chair or couch does. Sitting for a long time without support puts more strain on hemorrhoidal cushions, which can make them enlarge and hurt.
Attention-Trapping applications: Social networking and news applications are made to grab your attention and keep it, which can make you take longer restroom breaks and ignore your body’s warnings.
Hemorrhoids are common and expensive: The doctor says that 50–66% of people will get hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. They cause millions of doctor visits and hundreds of millions of dollars in healthcare costs per year in the U.S. alone, making them a major public health problem.
Keep It Short: Dr. Sethi’s last piece of advise is easy to follow: restroom breaks should last no more than five minutes. He says that a “two-reel limit” is a simple rule to follow to keep from becoming stuck in a long scrolling session.
Dr. Sethi wants people to be more aware of their bathroom habits by pointing out these concerns. He wants them to pay attention to their body’s natural function and stay away from things that can cause long-term health problems.