If You’re Partial to Some DQT (Designated Quiet Time) Scrolling on the Toilet, You’re Not Alone

As the sun rises over a sleepy UK town, one might hear the familiar click of a smartphone screen illuminating another bout of scrolling. A study reveals a staggering 57% of British adults acknowledge using their phones while on the toilet. Among the younger demographic, that figure skyrockets to 61% for men aged 18 to 29. It sounds mundane, perhaps even innocuous—until new research links this habit to a painful and uncomfortable affliction: haemorrhoids.

What Did the Study Find?

A groundbreaking study published in PLOS One provides alarming insights into the health risks associated with our bathroom routines. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 125 participants undergoing colonoscopy. These individuals completed surveys detailing their smartphone habits while utilizing the toilet, along with their straining behaviors, dietary fiber intake, and physical activity levels.

What the researchers uncovered was eye-opening. Participants who used their smartphones on the throne tended to spend significantly longer in the restroom than their phone-free counterparts. This prolonged engagement resulted in a 46% increased risk of developing haemorrhoids, independent of variations in age, sex, body mass index (BMI), exercise, straining, and fiber intake. “Prolonged engagement with smartphones while using the toilet may be associated with an increased prevalence of haemorrhoids,” concluded the study’s authors.

Understanding the Connection: Toilet Smartphone Use and Haemorrhoids

Traditionally, haemorrhoids have been linked to straining, constipation, and low fiber diets. However, this new study shifts the focus to the issue of prolonged sitting on the toilet itself. “It seems that the unique posture we adopt while seated on the toilet fails to support the pelvic floor effectively,” explains Dr. Emily Carter, a gastroenterologist. “This lack of support can lead to increased pressure in haemorrhoidal cushions, making one more susceptible to this condition.”

But why does scrolling exacerbate the problem? It’s not merely the presence of the smartphone, which carries ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats; it is the “passive engagement” that scrolling facilitates. “We enter a state of relaxation that can deter us from making efficient bathroom visits,” adds Dr. John Smith, a behavioral health scientist. “Our attention is diverted, leading us to linger longer than necessary.”

Key Insights from the Study

• 57% of Brits use their phones in the toilet.
• Spending extra time on the toilet raises the risk of haemorrhoids by 46%.
• Straining alone isn’t the only culprit; prolonged sitting plays a significant role.
• Smartphones contribute to passive engagement, reducing urgency.

The Bottom Line

This study serves as a call to action for those who view toilet time as a sanctuary from the world’s chaos. While the research is limited in scope, the association found between smartphone use and haemorrhoids is compelling, urging a re-evaluation of bathroom habits. “It’s not necessary to completely abandon scrolling,” suggests Dr. Carter, “but adjusting your posture can significantly mitigate health risks. Consider standing instead of sitting, or at least changing positions every few minutes.”

As we contemplate our daily routines, perhaps it is the reflection of our choices in unexpected places—like the bathroom—merely a reminder of how technology intertwines with our most basic needs. Could your phone’s algorithm be affecting your body in ways you never imagined?

Source: www.menshealth.com