 |
Smartphones and bathrooms: a combination that has now become the norm for millions of people. But behind this seemingly harmless daily gesture lies a potential health risk that few are aware of—and that science is finally starting to measure with concrete data.
📱 Time on the toilet has increased (and it's not a good thing)
According to a recent study presented at the Digestive Disease Week 2025 conference, using a smartphone while sitting on the toilet can increase the risk of hemorrhoids by 46% compared to those who don't use it in the bathroom. (Medscape).
The reason? Simple: smartphone users tend to sit longer—often for more than 10 minutes—exerting excessive and prolonged pressure on the rectal venous plexus. A condition that, over time, can lead to (Focus):
- hemorrhoids,
- internal rectal prolapse,
- pelvic floor weakness.
📊 The numbers don't lie: the Pune study
Another 10-year study, conducted at a proctology center in Pune (India), analyzed over 14,000 patients between the ages of 18 and 45: over 90% used their phone in the bathroom for more than 15 minutes. The result? 30% developed rectal disease, with 1 in 10 requiring surgery (Indian Express).
🧠 But the problem isn't just physical
Using a cell phone in the bathroom can also interfere with the body's signals: when you're distracted, you lose your connection with natural intestinal cues. According to neuropsychologists, this can lead to:
- elimination problems,
- constipation,
- feeling of incomplete emptying.
And let's not forget posture. A 2024 biomechanical study showed that cervical flexion progressively increases during prolonged smartphone use, especially while sitting—contributing to neck strain, back pain, and poor posture. (PubMed).
🦠 What about hygiene?
A study published by the New York Post estimates that many people spend over 73 hours a year on the toilet with their phone. Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 people regularly clean their smartphone after use in the bathroom. And this leads to a simple (but disturbing) truth: Your phone may be dirtier than the toilet seat (NY Post).
🛡️ How to protect yourself? Here's some expert advice
- ⏱ Limit time on the toilet to 5–10 minutes max
- 🚫 Avoid using your smartphone in the bathroom altogether
- 🧼 Disinfect your phone at least once a day
- 🧠 Listen to your body: if you feel the need to distract yourself in the bathroom, there may be an underlying issue (anxiety, low-fiber diet, etc.)
🧾 Conclusion
Technology is an integral part of our lives—but it doesn't have to be all the time. Using your smartphone in the bathroom is a bad habit disguised as multitasking, and now we have scientific data to prove it.
Maybe it's time to go back to an... analog bathroom. Your body (and your phone) will thank you.
Main sources:
Follow me #techelopment
Official site: www.techelopment.it
facebook: Techelopment
instagram: @techelopment
X: techelopment
Bluesky: @techelopment
telegram: @techelopment_channel
whatsapp: Techelopment
youtube: @techelopment
