Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - Many people who take their phones into the bathroom, often turn what should be a brief visit into a prolonged session of operating their phones and health professionals are now warning that spending excessive time on the toilet can have significant health consequences.
Dr Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, explained that long periods on the toilet can increase pressure
on the veins and blood vessels around the anus, leading to hemorrhoids.
"When patients present to me with complaints, one of the main areas
we have to delve deeply into is spending a lot of time on the toilet," Xue
said.
Dr Farah Monzur, an assistant professor of medicine and director
of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine, said that
people should spend no more than five to 10 minutes on the toilet.
Prolonged sitting can lead to increased pressure on the pelvic area,
causing complications such as weakened anal muscles and pelvic floor
dysfunction.
Xue explained that the open, oval-shaped toilet seat compresses
the buttocks, lowering the rectum's position.
With gravity pulling downward, the body's blood circulation is impeded,
increasing the risk of hemorrhoids. "It becomes a one-way valve where
blood enters, but blood really can’t go back," Xue said.
Many people, distracted by their phones, may spend excessive time on the
toilet, unintentionally straining their muscles and weakening the pelvic floor.
Monzur noted that this could increase the risk of rectal prolapse, where
part of the large intestine slips down and bulges out of the anus.
The American Cancer Society recently reported an increase in
colorectal cancer rates among people under 55.
Dr Lance Uradomo, an interventional
gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County, advised making the bathroom
as uninteresting as possible.
“You don’t want to go with the mindset that you will be there for a long
time,” Monzur said.
Xue also recommended walking around after 10 minutes if a bowel
movement hasn’t occurred.
For those who experience chronic difficulty or discomfort when passing
stool, experts caution that it could be a sign of gastrointestinal issues,
including irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease.
Uradomo noted that persistent symptoms might also indicate a more
serious condition, such as colorectal cancer, which can obstruct stool flow.
0 Comments