Your smartphone habit on the toilet is silently damaging your health in ways you never imagined.

Quick Take

• A new study reveals that using your phone on the toilet increases hemorrhoid risk by 46 percent
• Two-thirds of adults admit to bringing devices into the bathroom, with 37 percent spending over five minutes per visit
• Prolonged toilet time from phone distraction creates dangerous pressure in anal and rectal tissues
• Hemorrhoids affect roughly half of Americans over 50, driving nearly 4 million emergency visits annually

The Hidden Cost of Digital Distraction

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in or around the rectum and anus that cause pain, itching, and bleeding, though they typically clear up independently. This frustrating condition affects about half of US adults over 50, sending nearly 4 million Americans to doctors or emergency rooms each year. Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston have now identified a culprit lurking in bathroom cabinets everywhere: your smartphone.

What the Research Reveals

Scientists studied 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy procedures, asking them to complete online surveys about lifestyle and toilet behavior. The findings shocked even seasoned gastroenterologists. Sixty-six percent of participants admitted to using phones while on the toilet, with 37 percent of these bathroom browsers spending more than five minutes per visit compared to just 7.1 percent of those without devices. This distraction directly correlates with increased hemorrhoid development.

Dr. Trisha Pasricha, the study’s senior author, explained the mechanism behind this troubling connection. Phone use inadvertently prolongs toilet time, which increases pressure in anal and rectal tissues, potentially causing veins to swell and stretch. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, marks a significant shift in hemorrhoid research by determining that straining itself did not increase risk—duration and distraction did.

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Beyond the Screen: Other Contributing Factors

While smartphone usage represents a modern culprit, hemorrhoids stem from multiple causes. Constipation, heavy lifting, pregnancy, genetics, obesity, and weakened veins from aging all contribute to this condition. Understanding these risk factors empowers adults to take preventive action across multiple fronts, not just digital discipline.

The 10-15 Minute Rule

Experts now recommend limiting bowel movements to 10-15 minutes maximum to reduce hemorrhoid risk. Dr. David L. Schwarzbaum, a Long Island gastroenterologist, advises patients struggling with bathroom time to consider alternatives. If you need refuge from the world, sit on top of the toilet seat rather than prolonging your visit with digital entertainment. This simple adjustment eliminates the pressure buildup that triggers vein swelling.

Dr. Pasricha reinforces this guidance by asking patients to examine their bathroom behavior honestly. Is a lengthy toilet visit necessary because bowel movements are genuinely difficult, or is your focus simply elsewhere? The answer to this question determines your hemorrhoid risk trajectory.

Sources:

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/03/health/toilet-time-hemorrhoid-risk-wellness

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0329983