A doctor has issued a warning about taking your phone to the toilet with you. Spending lots of time sitting and scrolling through social media on the loo could come with a nasty health risk, he said.
As smartphones have become more popular and advanced, we have become more used to taking them with us everywhere we go. This includes into the bathroom, with one YouGov poll showing more than half (57 percent) of Brits use their phone while sitting on the toilet.
While this may seem harmless, it could actually be damaging to our bodies. In a video shared to social media platform TikTok, Doctor Joe Whittington – who is best known online as Dr Joe MD – said that this habit could actually lead to blood “pooling” around the anus, GloucestershireLive reports.
This can then cause haemorrhoids, which are also known as piles. “When I tell my patients that prolonged sitting on the toilet causes blood to pool in your anal veins, which may cause haemorrhoids to form, so you’re best to not spend time sitting and scrolling,” Dr Joe warned. “Get off that toilet seat!”
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. They can develop inside the rectum, called internal haemorrhoids, or under the skin around the anus, called external haemorrhoids.
According to the Mayo Clinic in the US, sitting and scrolling on the toilet is a common cause of haemorrhoids. “The veins around the anus tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell,” the clinic says. “Haemorrhoids can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to sitting for long periods of time, especially on the toilet.”
Other causes of haemorrhoids include:
- Being pregnant
- Having anal intercourse
- Being obese
- Having chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Regularly lifting heavy items
- Eating a low-fibre diet
- Straining during bowel movements
Symptoms of haemorrhoids will depend where they are but can include:
- Bleeding
- A haemorrhoid to push through the anal opening, called a prolapsed or protruding haemorrhoid
- Swelling around the anus
- Painless bleeding during bowel movements
- Itching or irritation in the anal region
- Pain or discomfort
- A hard, discoloured lump near the anus
The Mayo Clinic adds: “If you have bleeding during bowel movements or you have haemorrhoids that don’t improve after a week of home care, talk to your health care provider. Don’t assume rectal bleeding is due to haemorrhoids, especially if you have changes in bowel habits or if your stools change in colour or consistency.
“Rectal bleeding can happen with other diseases, including colorectal cancer and anal cancer. Seek emergency care if you have large amounts of rectal bleeding, lightheadedness, dizziness or faintness.”