Research: Spending time on the phone in the toilet triggers this disease

As part of the research conducted at Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, scientists conducted a survey on 125 adults who had a routine colonoscopy test between August 1 and December 15, 2024, including questions about age, gender, body mass index, physical activity level and dietary habits, as well as the frequency and duration of smartphone use in the restroom.

Researchers found that 66 percent of participants who examined colonoscopy results and survey responses used smartphones in the restroom were 46 percent more likely to develop hemorrhoids than others.

Researchers concluded that the most common activities on the phone during this time were "reading news and browsing social media," while emphasizing that the time spent in the toilet should not exceed 5 minutes.

Researchers noted that hemorrhoids are the third most common gastrointestinal diagnosis, accounting for approximately 4 million outpatient and emergency room visits annually and costing the healthcare system more than $800 million. They also noted that constipation, a low-fiber diet, prolonged sitting, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and pregnancy are among the factors that increase the risk of hemorrhoids.

As a result of the research, scientists concluded that smartphone use, which has become an integral part of daily life, can cause the time spent in the toilet to prolong, and this increases the risk of hemorrhoids.

The research was published in the journal "Plos One".