Do you take your smartphone with you to the bathroom? If so, doctors have a warning for you. Medical professionals and recent studies reveal that smartphone use during bathroom visits, specifically while sitting on the toilet, creates a substantial risk for developing hemorrhoids, painful, swollen veins in the lower rectum that affect millions.
Key Findings from Recent Studies:
46% Increased Risk: Research presented at the Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) 2025 conference showed that people who use smartphones while on the toilet experience a 46% greater risk of hemorrhoids than those who avoid phone use in the bathroom.
Prolonged Toilet Time: The smartphone’s existence is not the problem, but rather its influence, which leads people to spend extended time on the toilet. Most participants reported spending more than six minutes per visit because some got so absorbed in their smartphones that their visits extended even further. The time many people spend on the toilet exceeds the medically recommended duration, between 5 and 10 minutes, due to the engaging nature and portability of smartphones.
More About the Survey: The study queried 125 people undergoing colonoscopies. The survey questioned each participant about their toilet routines and specifically their phone usage during toilet visits. And the results were telling.
A majority of 93% reported using their phones while on the toilet weekly. Within the surveyed group, approximately half checked their news feeds while 44% viewed social media, and about 30% engaged in texting or emailing.
Some participants confessed to spending more than six minutes during each toilet visit, which exceeds the duration most doctors advise. Numerous individuals attributed their toilet routine to their smartphone habits.
So, what can make this unsafe, whether you’re using a smartphone or reading a newspaper?
Mechanism: Extended sitting positions on the toilet lead to muscle relaxation around the anus which creates conditions for blood to accumulate in hemorrhoidal veins. As these veins endure increased pressure over time, they expand and stretch, which then causes symptoms such as pain, itching, and bleeding.
Yikes!
A lot of people who see blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper probably get freaked out, thinking they have colon cancer.
Additional Health Concern When Using a Smartphone: Also, using your phone in the bathroom exposes your device to fecal bacteria, which can be spread to your skin when hands and face remain uncleaned.
Practical Recommendations
Limit Toilet Time: Medical experts advise that bathroom sessions should be limited to less than 10 minutes and are best kept between 3 and 5 minutes to reduce hemorrhoidal risk.
Avoid Distractions: Store your phone along with any reading materials outside the bathroom to prevent extended bathroom visits.
Good Hygiene: When you need to use your phone, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly clean your device to minimize bacterial contamination.
Conclusion
Smartphone use in the bathroom appears innocent, yet significantly raises hemorrhoids risk by promoting extended sitting periods that increase pressure on rectal veins. You should spend less time sitting on the toilet and refrain from using digital devices during bathroom breaks to maintain proper colorectal health.