Smartphones have quietly crept into our most private spaces—even the bathroom. But this modern habit may come at a health cost. A new study suggests that scrolling on the toilet could significantly increase your risk of hemorrhoids. Researchers found that phone use while sitting on the toilet may raise hemorrhoid risk by 46 percent. This increase occurs regardless of age, sex, diet, or fitness.
Once reserved for peace and privacy, bathrooms have become hotspots for digital distractions.
People use their phones on the toilet for various activities. This includes reading news, checking social media, or replying to emails. Ninety-three percent of survey participants admitted to this habit weekly.
The small study presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2025 found that more than 40% had hemorrhoids during routine colonoscopies.
WHY SITTING TOO LONG IS A PROBLEM
Hemorrhoids are clusters of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and connective tissue in the rectum and anus. Everyone has them. But when these tissues swell, bleed, or protrude, they become a medical issue—causing pain, itching, and discomfort.
Experts believe extended toilet time increases rectal pressure, which may weaken and dilate blood vessels, triggering hemorrhoid flare-ups.
THE ROLE OF DISTRACTION AND DURATION
Phones keep us seated longer. Without noticing, a routine bowel movement turns into a 15-minute scroll. Some doctors recommend spending no more than 10 minutes on the toilet. Others suggest limiting time to under 3 minutes.
A previous study of 100 patients confirmed this: hemorrhoid sufferers spent more time reading on the toilet than those without the condition.
THE DIGITAL AGE AND BATHROOM BEHAVIOR
Toilet reading isn’t new. In the past, newspapers or books accompanied trips to the restroom. But smartphones offer endless content, magnifying the risk of prolonged sitting.Unlike paper, phones are engineered to keep us hooked—extending sessions beyond what’s healthy for our bodies.
Health experts warn that toilet scrolling might also mess with our toilet hygiene routines. Focus drifts from the primary task. Delayed cleaning, distracted wiping, and additional time sitting could worsen hemorrhoid symptoms. A 2024 paper urged a cultural shift: make washrooms smartphone-free zones to safeguard health.
A PUBLIC HEALTH GAP
Despite millions of cases, hemorrhoids remain under-researched.
About 4 million U.S. doctor visits annually are due to hemorrhoids, yet no national survey has updated public health data since 1989. With rising screen time and sedentary habits, experts say it’s time to re-evaluate the role of modern behavior in hemorrhoid risk.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT ACTUALLY CAUSES HEMORRHOIDS
While straining during bowel movements is a known factor, sitting too long adds to the pressure in the anal region.
Frequent bowel movements or prolonged defecation time may also contribute. The delicate tissue in the rectum is vulnerable to stress—and when overloaded, it swells, causing hemorrhoids.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR BETTER BATHROOM HEALTH
1. Limit toilet time: Aim to finish within 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Ditch the phone: Leave it outside the bathroom.
3. Go when needed: Don’t delay the urge or force it.
4. Eat more fiber: Whole grains, fruits, and veggies aid digestion.
5. Drink water: Hydration prevents constipation and straining.
EXPERTS URGE A SHIFT IN BATHROOM CULTURE
As phones become default companions, doctors worry about subtle yet serious health effects from our digital habits.
Trisha Satya Pasricha of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center stresses: distractions on the toilet aren’t just quirky—they’re risky. This small but telling study sparks an important conversation about how we manage health in an increasingly screen-centered world.
