California – Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

A new study, published in the open-access American journal PLOS One, suggests that a common habit may be linked to an increased risk of hemorrhoids. Researchers found that smartphone users on the toilet were more likely to develop hemorrhoids, even after accounting for age, diet, and physical activity levels.

Hemorrhoids are a significant health problem. They occur when veins in the anal or rectal area become swollen and inflamed, leading to pain and bleeding.

Doctors have long suspected that prolonged sitting on the toilet may contribute to the development of hemorrhoids.

Researchers studied 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopies, during which participants completed online questionnaires about their toileting habits. Doctors also assessed participants during the examination to determine if they had hemorrhoids.

Two-thirds of the participants, 66%, reported using their smartphones while on the toilet. These participants were generally younger than those who didn't use their phones in the bathroom, according to Euronews, a Brussels-based news network. After adjusting the data for factors such as age and physical activity, researchers found that smartphone users had a 46% increased risk of developing hemorrhoids compared to non-users.

The results also showed that those who bring their phones into the bathroom tend to stay longer, with 37% of phone users reporting spending more than five minutes per visit. This increases pressure on the veins in the anus and rectum, thus contributing to the development of hemorrhoids.

These findings could provide practical guidance for doctors when advising patients. Future studies could follow people for longer periods to determine whether phone use directly contributes to hemorrhoids and to explore strategies for reducing prolonged time spent on the toilet. “Using your phone while on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids,” said Trisha Pasricha, the study’s lead author. “We’re still discovering the different ways smartphones and our modern lifestyles affect our health. It’s possible that where and how we use our phones, such as in the bathroom, can have unexpected consequences.”

She added, “This study reinforces the general advice to leave your phone outside the bathroom and try to spend just a few minutes on your bowel movement. If it takes longer, ask yourself why. Was it really difficult to have a bowel movement, or were you distracted?”

She continued, “It’s very easy to lose track of time when scrolling through smartphones. The apps are designed for that very purpose. But sitting longer on the toilet because of your phone could increase your risk of hemorrhoids. We need more research, but it’s safe to suggest leaving your phone outside the bathroom when you need to have a bowel movement.” PLOS One (formerly PLoS ONE, based in California, USA) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS) since 2006. The journal covers original research from all disciplines in science and medicine. PLOS began in 2000 as an online petition initiative launched by Nobel laureate Harold Varmus, former director of the National Institutes of Health and then director of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Patrick O. Brown, a biochemist at Stanford University; and Michael Eisen, a computational biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Submitted articles are subject to a processing fee, and according to the journal, research is not rejected on the grounds of being irrelevant or irrelevant to a specific scientific field. All submitted research undergoes pre-publication review by a member of the academic editorial board, who may request an external review. In January 2010, the journal was included in Journal Citation Reports and received its first impact factor of 4.4. Its projected impact factor for 2024 is approximately 2.6. PLOS One research is published under Creative Commons licenses.