Study links phone use on the toilet to higher haemorrhoid risk

A new study found that using a smartphone while sitting on the toilet was associated with a substantially higher chance of haemorrhoids, with researchers reporting a 46% increased likelihood among users who scrolled during bowel movements.

The team, led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in the United States, recruited 125 adults who were already undergoing bowel cancer screening. They reported that participants who used smartphones in the bathroom tended to remain seated longer than those who did not, and that this behaviour was linked to an elevated probability of haemorrhoids.

"Using a smartphone while on the toilet was linked to a 46 per cent increased chance of having haemorrhoids," senior author Trisha Pasricha of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre said. "We're still uncovering the many ways smartphones and our modern way of life impact our health. It's possible that how and where we use them — such as while in the bathroom — can have unintended consequences."

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen or inflamed veins in the anal or rectal region that can cause pain, itching and bleeding. The researchers said prolonged sitting on the toilet may contribute to the condition by increasing pressure on the rectal veins, though the study did not directly measure physiological mechanisms.

The analysis was based on a relatively small sample of adults already undergoing screening for bowel cancer, and the authors cautioned that the findings describe an association rather than proof of a causal link. They said further research using larger, more diverse populations and objective measures of toilet time and smartphone use will be needed to determine whether the relationship is causal and to clarify underlying mechanisms.

The investigators framed the results as part of a broader effort to understand how contemporary behaviours related to smartphone use affect health. Their report adds to a growing body of research examining physical and mental health effects tied to device use, including posture, sleep and sedentary time.

Clinicians and public health experts who commented on the findings said the study highlights a potentially modifiable behaviour worth investigating further, particularly because smartphone use during bathroom visits is common. They noted that any public-health recommendations should await confirmatory studies and clearer evidence on causation.

The research underscores the need for more detailed studies that track bathroom habits and device use prospectively and examine objective clinical outcomes. Until then, the authors recommend awareness of how long one spends seated on the toilet while using a phone and further study to guide evidence-based advice.