A new study has sparked discussions around the health dangers associated with excessive toilet time. More so if you’re the kind of person who checks their smartphone while on the toilet. Haemorrhoids are one of the most prevalent anorectal conditions seen in Australia. Spending extended periods of time sitting on the toilet can exacerbate this issue.
Dr MacKrill is a gastroenterology psychologist at Middlemore Hospital and a lecturer in psychology at the University of Auckland. Her focus is on raising awareness that spending prolonged periods on the toilet causes serious health issues. Early on, she explains how excessive sitting can lead to abdominal pain, constipation, and other issues.
Professor Rupert Leong, a Concord Hospital – Concord University, Sydney– based gastroenterologist, supports Dr MacKrill in this view. He recommends that bowel movements occur in less than a minute without straining to reduce the risk of complications.
The worries over bathroom manners exploded into the limelight after a US study released in the PLOS ONE scientific journal. The study interviewed 125 adults age 45 and older who had a colonoscopy at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The findings revealed that 66% of participants utilized their smartphone while using the toilet. They spent an average of more than five minutes telephone time per visit.
Dr Leong stresses that it’s important to see your general practitioner (GP) to exclude more serious causes such as bowel cancer. A GP will typically undertake first line inquiry into your symptoms. Next, they will inspect the anal opening to look for inflamed blood vessels or other issues.
“The symptoms of haemorrhoids is non-specific so passage of red blood can be something as benign as a haemorrhoid or it can be something more sinister that includes bowel cancer,” – Dr. Kate MacKrill.
Haemorrhoids generally begin as small, internal issues. Chronic straining and prolonged sitting are common contributors to worsening their condition. The human digestive system is heavily regulated by the enteric nervous system, nicknamed the body’s second brain.
As Dr. MacKrill cautions, causing disruption like this with extended toilet sittings can interfere with your bowel signals. This disruption can lead to issues such as abdominal pain and constipation.
Professor Young is confident that with some smart dietary changes constipation needs won’t be a problem anymore. He’s not convinced that you can directly blame phone use for any of these health issues.
“If there is a real problem of constipation… then you really need to get the constipation dealt with by dietary fibre; and discussion with the doctor if that doesn’t work,” – Emeritus Professor Graeme Young.
In a light-hearted admission shared on TikTok, comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes confessed to using her phone during bathroom breaks and humorously noted the anxiety of forgetting her device while seated.
“I am my phone a lot, like way too much. But the people who use their phone while they are on the toilet – that is disgusting. And I am one of those people,” – Anjelah Johnson-Reyes.
Even with the comedic undertones, researchers insist that we should be more conscious about the way bathroom habits can impact our health. Excessive time spent in the seated toilet position encourages straining, which is one of the main contributors to the formation of haemorrhoids.
“For people who have a difficult bowel habit in terms of initiating the bowel action, the chances are they are going to be sitting longer on the toilet and straining,” – Professor Rupert Leong.
The results of this study should make us reconsider how we use bathrooms, particularly in an age where people are more likely to bring digital distractions into the restroom. Experts recommend a more mindful approach to restroom visits, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body and not prolonging time on the toilet unnecessarily.
