Given the prevalence of mobile phones in our lives, it is not surprising that 3 out of 4 people look at their phone while sitting on the toilet. In fact, 96 percent of Gen Z and 90 percent of millennials say they don't go to the bathroom without their phone.
But checking your phone sitting on the throne can be bad for your butt. The reason is that while you're busy scrolling through TikTok, watching your favorite show, or catching up on your emails, you may be staying longer than necessary.
Unlike sitting in a chair, which gives you support, your butt hangs toward the middle of the toilet. This allows the rectal tissue to relax and sag.
4 things that can happen when you stay in the bathroom
You are more likely to get hemorrhoids
You've probably seen ads promoting treatments for hemorrhoids, which are commonly described as an itchy, sore feeling around the anus.
But what exactly are they? We all have hemorrhoids, which are groups of veins anchored by tissue that line our anal canal. They help us maintain continence by closing the anus and preventing leaks. They are a natural part of the body and you will probably never notice them unless they are swollen.
When you're sitting on the toilet, you're exposing your rectal area to direct, focused pressure, especially if you strain to have a bowel movement . This pressure closes the hemorrhoidal veins, so blood pools in them and causes them to bulge, similar to the way the blood vessels in your arm bulge when a blood pressure cuff is tightened around your biceps. .
Also, as you age, the tissues that cushion your veins can weaken. They can become flexible and are more likely to get in the way and stick out.
This lump is what people refer to when they use the term "hemorrhoids." Having them can cause itching, discomfort, and pain; Hemorrhoids can also leak or bleed.
They affect between 20 and 50 percent of the population, resulting in 4 million visits to the doctor's office and ER per year, according to a January 2019 article in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. And as our phones become more and more ubiquitous, there are signs that hemorrhoids could be increasing. A Google Trends analysis revealed that in July 2010 there were about 48,000 searches a week for "hemorrhoids." That number skyrocketed to 86,000 weekly searches in July 2020.
You can block yourself
It sounds counterintuitive, but taking your time on the toilet could lead to constipation. The reason? Taking out your phone or a book every time you're sitting on the toilet often sends mixed messages to your body.
You're training your body so that sitting on the toilet no longer means it's time to have a bowel movement. Instead, you are forming an association between bathroom use and your mobile ; it is similar to how watching television regularly in bed can make it difficult to sleep.
As a result, the poop may not come down automatically when you perch on the potty, as it should.
Also, if your butt already hurts from hemorrhoids, you may avoid going to the bathroom because it is painful. The longer the stool stays inside the colon, the drier and harder it will become. If you delay a bowel movement too long, you may try harder because it is difficult.
Of course, pushing down can cause hemorrhoids to flare up, setting off a vicious cycle. And when you poop, it is more likely to be hard as a stone, which can lead to a tear in the lining of the anal canal .
Constipation can also cause a number of other problems. You may experience nausea, heartburn, bloating, or reflux. If your stools are impacted and you are unable to evacuate your bowels yourself, then a doctor will need to remove them using an enema.
Before you get to that point, you can usually relieve constipation at home by drinking plenty of fluids to help keep your stools soft, increasing your fiber intake, and exercising daily (this moves food through your system more quickly so there is less water loss). It's also important to set aside time for a bath as soon as you hear the call of nature.
You could rip your ass
Although hemorrhoids can hurt and bleed at times, fissures are the source of most anal pain and bleeding. If you pass a hard stool, it can break the lining of the anal canal. This cut is called a fissure.
Beneath the lining is the sphincter, a ring-shaped muscle that expands to allow the anal canal to empty during a bowel movement and then contracts to create a seal. A fissure causes the sphincter to close involuntarily with a spasm. This creates difficulties in going to the bathroom, because you are trying to push a closed door. Then the constipation worsens and the hemorrhoids reap their horrible heads.
As with hemorrhoids, a warm bath while sitting can provide relief. Your doctor can also prescribe ointments that help relax the muscle.
Your rectum could come out of the anus
It sounds horrible enough, but for some people, lazing on the toilet can cause a rectal prolapse , where a part of the rectum falls out of the anus.
Sometimes it comes out when you're straining and then it comes back in on its own, sometimes you can manually push it in and other times it comes out and stays out. This condition is seen most often in older adult women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries and are also experiencing a problem with their intestines that makes them sit or strain on the toilet, such as frequent constipation or diarrhea.
Staying hydrated, eating a diet rich in fiber, and exercising Kegel can improve rectal prolapse. Depending on the severity of the prolapse, you may need surgery.
How long is too long to sit on the toilet?
There is no hard and fast rule, but having a bowel movement shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes .
If you feel like having a bowel movement, listen to the call in a reasonable amount of time. Sit on the toilet, do your things efficiently, and then go. This is an innate and natural process and your body should be able to do it.
