We know that endless scrolling on a smartphone can take a toll on our mental health. But what’s doesn’t get as much attention is the impact it can have on our gastrointestinal systems.
A new study published in PLOS One on Wednesday links smartphone use while sitting on the toilet with the prevalence of hemorrhoids.
“Hemorrhoids are these cushions of veins that are in our rectum, which is the bottom part of our colon,” the study’s lead author Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist and director of the BIDMC Institute for Gut-Brain Research, told HuffPost. “With time and with certain risk factors ― one of which we’re identifying could be smartphone use ― the connective tissue that supports those veins starts to weaken under pressure, and those veins can bulge.”
Anyone who’s had hemorrhoids knows that these swollen and inflamed veins can be very bothersome, causing itchiness, discomfort, bleeding and other symptoms.
Pasricha’s research team surveyed 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy screening about their smartphone habits on the toilet, as well as other bathroom-related factors like straining, fiber intake and level of physical activity. Endoscopists evaluated for the presence of hemorrhoids.
