Why taking your phone to the toilet could give you lifelong problems?
When you take your phone to the washroom, you are likely to spend more time on the toilet seat. Sitting for long periods of time can cause serious health problems like piles.
Your bathroom is the place where your mind is most active, the place where crazy ideas come from, the place where it’s just you and your thoughts. Umm…not anymore. Now, it’s you and your phone, a habit that’s more dangerous to your health than you think.
Let’s admit it – we all take our phones to the washroom now. Be it going to the toilet in the morning or going to the bathroom frequently during work, the phone is always with you. Chances are you’re also reading this on your toilet seat… well…
gross germs
When you take your phone to the washroom, a lot of harmful things can happen – starting with germs. It’s dirty out there, and we all know it. Using the phone in the bathroom means contaminating it with harmful bacteria, which can easily spread outside the washroom, causing diseases like stomach worms.
Still, despite the widely known connection between bathrooms, germs, and phones, that hasn’t stopped people from bringing their phones with them.
painful piles (hemorrhoids)
But beyond the obvious germ factor, this habit invites a whole list of other health problems—ones that can stick with you for a long time, like hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in and around the anus and lower rectum. This condition can make bowel movements really painful.
“Using mobile phones in washrooms has become a common habit, but it poses significant health risks. Sitting on the toilet for a long time can put excessive pressure on the veins of the rectum, which can lead to hemorrhoids. The body’s natural state for bowel movement is to be quick and efficient, but distractions from mobile devices often delay this process,” says Dr Mahesh Gupta, senior consultant, gastroenterology, Dharamshila Narayan Hospital, New Delhi.
Have you ever taken a U-turn while going to the washroom because you forgot to take your phone? If yes, then you will probably agree that you spend more time than necessary on the toilet seat. While the actual action is over within a few minutes, doomscrolling, wanting to watch one more reel or finish that episode keeps you sitting on the toilet seat for a long time. Before you know it, half an hour has passed.
Sitting in the washroom for a long time causes constipation and can lead to piles.
“Sitting for long periods of time can increase pressure on the nerves around the rectum and anus. The position of the toilet seat already puts pressure on this area, and when you delay having a bowel movement by getting distracted by your phone, the pressure increases even more. Over time, this repeated stress can lead to the development of piles,” explains Dr Sukrit Singh Sethi, consultant in gastroenterology, hepatology and liver transplant, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram.
Sitting on a chair is different from sitting on a toilet seat. Although sitting for long periods of time is not ideal in any situation, extra minutes on the toilet seat can put excessive pressure on the rectal area due to the lack of support beneath you.
Dr. shares, “As a proctologist and anorectal surgeon, I have noticed a common habit in many of my patients suffering from piles: spending 30 to 45 minutes on the toilet, often watching reels, YouTube videos or playing games on their phones. ” Vilas Kedar, Mumbai-based Proctologist and Anorectal Surgeon.
Hemorrhoids can cause discomfort, pain, itching and bleeding. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes, or even surgery.
“Most people who receive treatment for hemorrhoids feel better and are able to resume their regular activities. However, it may have some long-term effects. Some individuals may experience chronic symptoms, especially if they fail to maintain a fiber-rich diet and healthy bowel habits,” Dr Vishal Khurana, director, gastroenterology, Metro Hospital, Faridabad, explains. India Today,
Health experts say that one should not sit on the toilet seat for more than 10 minutes.
“To maintain healthy bowel habits, avoid distractions such as mobile phones that encourage longer toilet times, and focus on responding quickly to the natural urge rather than forcing a bowel movement. Maintaining good toilet posture, such as sitting with knees slightly raised, can also aid in efficient bowel movements,” suggests Dr Sethi.
other risks
In addition to the increased risk of hemorrhoids, constipation, and pelvic floor dysfunction, taking your phone to the toilet can also take a toll on your back and neck.
“Neck and back pain can also be caused by poor posture. If you get distracted by your phone and ignore your body’s signals, you run the risk of overstretching,” says Dr Geeta Shroff, Director, Nubela Center for Women’s Health, New Delhi.
Its psychological impact also cannot be ignored. Many times, it is because of the hesitation to face one’s thoughts that a person subconsciously prefers to take the phone to the washroom.
“This habit can also reinforce unhealthy mental patterns. Ideally, washroom should be a brief, private and meditative experience, but turning it into a time of digital distractions blurs the boundaries between personal care and screen time, leading to overstimulation of the brain,” Dr Mahesh. Gupta says.
Psychologists say this habit reflects the struggle many people face today with boredom and the difficulty of keeping their hands or mind free, making it challenging to do nothing. Well, being bored and doing nothing is important for your well-being.
“The long-term consequences of constant digital distraction can be problematic,” says Absi Sam, a Mumbai-based counseling psychologist.
“Using the phone as a distraction in the washroom may provide temporary relief, and short-term use is generally not harmful. However, if this behavior becomes excessive, it can lead to avoidance, which is often associated with anxiety or isolation – especially among trauma survivors,” she explains.
So, your phone may love your bathroom breaks. your body? It’s definitely not! For your information, it is better not to take a newspaper or a book! The idea is to avoid spending extra time on the toilet seat.