Study Links Smartphone Use on Toilet With Higher Prevalence of Hemorrhoids

A small observational study published Wednesday in PLOS One found an association between using a smartphone while sitting on the toilet and the presence of hemorrhoids among adults undergoing colonoscopy screening, researchers said.

The study, led by gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, surveyed 125 adults about their bathroom smartphone habits and other factors such as straining, fiber intake and level of physical activity. Endoscopists evaluated participants for the presence of hemorrhoids during colonoscopy.

The researchers reported that participants who reported using a smartphone in the bathroom were more likely to have hemorrhoids than those who did not, a relationship that persisted after accounting for other reported bathroom-related factors. "Hemorrhoids are these cushions of veins that are in our rectum, which is the bottom part of our colon," Pasricha said. "With time and with certain risk factors — one of which we’re identifying could be smartphone use — the connective tissue that supports those veins starts to weaken under pressure, and those veins can bulge."

Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed blood vessels in the rectum or anus that can cause itching, discomfort and bleeding. Known risk factors include constipation and straining during bowel movements, low dietary fiber, pregnancy and prolonged sitting. The new study suggests that prolonged time spent on a toilet while distracted by a phone could be an additional factor to consider.

The authors and outside experts emphasized limits to the findings. The study was observational and relied on participants' self-reported habits, which can introduce recall bias, and the sample of people undergoing colonoscopy screening may not represent the general population. Because of those limitations, the study cannot establish that smartphone use causes hemorrhoids, only that an association was observed.

Clinicians routinely advise against prolonged sitting on the toilet and recommend measures to reduce straining, including a diet higher in fiber, adequate hydration and regular physical activity. Pasricha said the research highlights a potentially modifiable behavior that warrants further study in larger, more diverse populations to determine whether changing bathroom smartphone habits would reduce the risk or severity of hemorrhoids.

The study adds to a growing body of research on how everyday smartphone habits intersect with health. Researchers called for additional investigation to clarify mechanisms, quantify risks and explore whether limiting time on the toilet could lower hemorrhoid prevalence or symptoms.