Doomscrolling on the toilet may be giving you hemorrhoids
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Reading your phone while on the toilet could potentially lead to hemorrhoids, a new study finds.
Why it matters: Most Americans are glued to their screens — even when they hit the head.
Driving the news: A new study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One suggests that smartphone power users were more likely to have hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum that can cause bleeding and discomfort.
- Researchers studied 125 adults before they had routine colonoscopy screenings.
- They looked at each participant's diet, activity level, toilet habits and smartphone use.
By the numbers: 66% of the patients said they used their phones on the toilet to read the news and swipe on social media.
- Those who used their phones on the john were associated with a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids compared to others, the study said.
- About 37% of smartphone users said they spent over five minutes on the toilet compared to about 7% of non-smartphone users, the study said.
Context: Hemorrhoids can happen from prolonged periods of sitting. Toilets raise a particular risk since the open bowl seat keeps your bottom lower than it would be in a normal chair.
- Gravity pushes down on your veins, causing blood to pool and increasing pressure that can lead to hemorrhoids.
What they're saying: Trisha Pasricha, the study's senior author, said in a press release that phones caused people to spend more time on the toilet than would other conditions like constipation or straining.
- "Time sort of slows down when you're scrolling, and people don't realize just how much longer they're sitting there," she says in a press release.
Threat level: Hemorrhoids are a common condition that affects 1 in 20 Americans, per the National Institutes of Health.
- The medical issue can cause blood clots, skin tags and infections.
The big picture: This news won't sit well with smartphone-owning Americans, who have become more dependent on their devices for the internet and information.
- In late 2024, the Pew Research Center found 91% of Americans own a smartphone, with 15% saying they rely on their phones for the internet.
- Questions about a smartphone's impact on mental health — especially among kids, tweens and teens — have existed for years. They've also been linked to physical injury risks and, in some cases, addiction.
The bottom line: This is a crappy medical finding for phone-obsessed Americans.
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