Your Butthole Is Begging You to Stop Scrolling on the Toilet

Chances are, you’ve spent some time scrolling mindlessly on your phone while taking care of toilet business. And as icky as some might think that is in and of itself, new research suggests this questionable habit could also be raising your risk of developing a rather unfortunate medical condition down there.

In a new study, scientists found that people who use their smartphones while pooping are more likely to develop hemorrhoids—uncomfortable, swollen veins in the rectum and anus that can make it even harder to go. The reason why? Scientists think it’s because if you’re looking at your phone, you’re spending too much time on the toilet.

“While it is a general adage that one should avoid prolonged toilet sitting, our study adds a concrete risk association between hemorrhoids and smartphone use, which may inadvertently prolong intended time on the toilet,” the authors wrote in their paper, published Wednesday in PLOS-One.

The why and how of a hemorrhoid

The end of the body’s rectum and anus is cushioned by blood vessels and surrounding tissue. Typically, this cushion protects the skin from our stool. But when the veins in this region get inflamed and swollen, they become hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids can be external or internal, although it’s the external ones that trigger the misery most commonly associated with them, causing symptoms like anal itching, swelling, and pain. Internal hemorrhoids typically cause painless bleeding.

Hemorrhoids usually aren’t a major medical concern and smaller ones often go away on their own, but they can sometimes lead to serious complications if the affected veins become blocked by a blood clot. Larger hemorrhoids are also unlikely to disappear without treatment and lifestyle changes. It’s estimated that Americans make at least four million visits to their doctors or emergency rooms annually due to hemorrhoids.

Common risk factors for hemorrhoids include chronic constipation (straining to poop), pregnancy, age, and eating a low-fiber diet. Staying too long on a toilet can also cause hemorrhoids, since the very act of squatting (not to mention gravity) puts pressure on these veins. That’s why gastroenterologists generally recommend that people spend no more than five minutes using the toilet.

A tempting distraction

For the new study, a team of scientists conducted a survey of 125 patients about to undergo a routine colonoscopy screening test.

Overall, 43% turned out to have a hemorrhoid. Two-thirds of the participants admitted to using their smartphone while on the toilet, and smartphone use was associated with a 46% increased risk of having hemorrhoids. Looking closer, 37% of smartphone users reported staying on the toilet longer than five minutes on average, compared to only 7% of non-users—a fivefold difference.

The researchers also found no other significant differences in rates of straining or constipation between the two groups, indicating that toilet time was the largest contributing factor to smartphone users’ risk. Smartphone users did report being less physically active than non-users, but they were also younger.

A simple change

The clear takeaway here is to put your phone down while you are on the can, although that might be easier said than done.

The researchers note that only half of the smartphone users admitted to spending more time on the toilet than they typically would otherwise. So it’s entirely possible that many of us simply don’t notice how occupied we are by our phones on the toilet, causing us to lose track of time.

“I think what’s happening is that time sort of slows down when you’re scrolling, and people don’t realize just how much longer they’re sitting there,” said study researcher Trisha Pasricha in a press release from Beth Israel Deaconess.

For those looking for a potential half-measure to avoid too much toilet time while holding onto their phones, try getting a cat. Great pets, but incredibly invasive bathroom monitors.