Did you ever stop to think about the fact that sitting on the toilet for a long time could actually not be a good thing to your health? Did you ever consider that there was such thing as being on the toilet for too long?
Yes, we all know that bathroom time is sometimes the only moment in a day that we get to be alone and decompress for a while, but apparently, it's not recommended to be on the loo for longer than 10 minutes — and it's not recommended to use your phone while you're using it.
In a NordVPN study, 65% of 9,800 adults surveyed said that they take their phone with them when they use the bathroom. As a result, it was found that they usually spend longer than 10 minutes scrolling through social media or even reading a magazine or book while on the toilet.
In all of the countries surveyed, the age range that take their phones to the bathroom the most was 26 to 41. Gen-Z (18 to 25) came in second place. Nearly 80% of people surveyed in Spain said they use their phones to keep themselves occupied while on the toilet.
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But being preoccupied while you're on the toilet isn't necessarily the best thing, according to Dr. Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone. She revealed that sitting on the toilet for a long time could actually cause some unexpected health problems.
"You generally don’t want to spend more than about on average about 10 minutes," she shared. Dr. Raj also added that sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods of time can lead to hemorrhoids and sometimes even swollen, painful veins in the anal area.
The doctor did go on to warn that the design of your toilet can also have a lot to do with this. "So the actual anorectal area is hanging a little bit lower than the part that’s supported — your thighs," she explained.
"Just by that position, gravity is causing everything to hang a bit, and that is causing pressure on the veins," she continued. "So even if you’re not straining, if you’re just sitting there thinking of something else, doing something else, there is some pressure being applied to those veins."
"I see a lot of people who get food poisoning or catch different things by not having good hygiene practices in the bathroom," Dr. Raj said. "I just think generally speaking, if you’re on the toilet having a bowel movement or trying to have a movement, you shouldn’t be using your fingers on anything else."
Well, now that we know better we can do better! So let's try not to be preoccupied on the toilet. Leave your phone, and just go take care of your business!
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
