A new study in the United States has linked smartphone use on the toilet with a 46 percent increased risk of haemorrhoids. Poor posture while sitting on the toilet for long periods can also contribute to lower back pain, something patients often fail to associate with their toilet habits.
Published Sep 09, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Toilets, even when cleaned regularly, still carry a high load of bacteria.
Synopsis: Using smartphones on the toilet has been linked to a 46 percent higher risk of developing haemorrhoids, according to a new study in the United States. Experts warn that phone use in the bathroom can disrupt natural bowel movements, increase strain, contribute to back pain, and expose users to bacterial contamination, stressing that toilets are not a place for phones.
Smartphone use has become such an integral part of modern life that it has fundamentally changed some daily routines. Using smartphones on the toilet, whether to read the news, check social media, or pass the time, has become common.
The convenience feels harmless, even comforting, but according to a new study, it actually adds pressure on the body and may put people at significant risk of developing hemorrhoids.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, surveyed 125 adults undergoing colonoscopies in Boston, United States, between January and December 2024.
Participants answered questions about their smartphone use, toilet habits, diet, and physical activity, while doctors checked for hemorrhoids during the procedure.
The results were telling. Of all respondents, 66 percent used smartphones while on the toilet, and those who did spent significantly more time there than those who did not. More than a third of phone users sat for longer than five minutes at a time, compared with only a small share of non-users.
Overall, 43 percent of all respondents had hemorrhoids visualised on colonoscopy. After accounting for age, sex, body weight, diet, exercise, and straining, the study found that “smartphone use on the toilet was associated with a 46 percent increased risk of hemorrhoids.”
Dr Dinesh Ramaswamy, Senior Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterology, SIMS Hospital, Chennai, told South First that the bathroom is not the place for distractions.
“When a person goes into the toilet with his mobile phone, it practically defeats the purpose of why he goes there,” he says, pointing out that bowel movements require coordination between the brain, the intestines, and the muscles around the rectum.
These muscles need to contract and relax in a precise sequence, which the body manages automatically.
“But introducing a phone into the process can interfere with this natural rhythm. When we take a mobile phone inside, all these things, the coordination which happens can be disrupted. And without knowing, we sometimes give too much pressure,” he explains.
This excess strain, often unnoticed because attention is on a screen, can trigger problems. Hemorrhoids, or piles, are the most common outcome, but Dr Ramaswamy also warns of fissures. These occur when the delicate lining of the anal canal tears due to unnecessary straining, causing sharp pain and bleeding. “So, there are certain diseases which can be caused because of the increased pressure,” he notes.
The risks do not end there. Poor posture while sitting on the toilet for long periods can also contribute to lower back pain, something patients often fail to connect with their toilet habits. Beyond the physical, he cautions, there is a psychological angle: taking a phone into the toilet may reflect an unhealthy level of screen addiction.
Dr Ramaswamy also points out overlooked hygiene risks. Toilets, even when cleaned regularly, still carry a high load of bacteria.
“Definitely, some studies have shown that the amount of bacteria, germs present in the mobile phone when we handle it, when they are taken into the toilet, they are having more germs there,” he says. If handwashing is inadequate, these germs can easily travel from the phone to the person, increasing the risk of infections.
The study found that the most common activity performed while on the toilet was reading ‘news’ (54.3 percent), followed by ‘social media’ (44.4 percent).
Yet only about a third admitted that their phones actually made them stay longer, showing how easy it is to lose track of time. “Only 35 percent of these users acknowledged that their smartphone use resulted in more time spent on the toilet,” the study noted.
There was also a small trend suggesting that men were more likely than women to spend six minutes or more per visit, though the authors note that “this difference did not reach statistical significance.”
Dr Ramaswamy stresses that losing track of time in the bathroom because of phones can also delay medical attention. Being absorbed in a screen may make people miss early warning signs of digestive problems, from infections to loose stools, that would normally prompt medical help.
“When attention is on the phone, people may not even notice what their body is signaling. They often realise only when the condition becomes painful or complicated, by which time early treatment has been missed,” he explains.
So, what can people do to reduce their risk? According to Dr Ramaswamy, the key is to avoid unnecessary straining by keeping stools soft and bowel movements regular.
He advises a fibre rich diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, not just juices. “If you eat the fruit, that is better than drinking fruit juices,” he says. Drinking enough water, at least three litres a day, is also important for smooth digestion.
Ultimately, the advice is simple: keep phones out of the bathroom and maintain healthy toilet habits. “It is said that when you go to the toilet, just avoid taking the mobile phone with you,” Dr Ramaswamy adds.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
