Why Smartphone Use on the Toilet Increases Hemorrhoid Risk
Description
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Hemorrhoids affect millions of Americans each year, and sitting too long on the toilet is among the hidden triggers
Using a smartphone in the bathroom raises hemorrhoid risk by 46% because it keeps you seated longer without pelvic support
People who use their phones are far more likely to sit over five minutes per trip, even though many don’t realize their habit is adding time
Younger adults are the most frequent toilet phone users, meaning their risk of hemorrhoids builds earlier in life
Simple changes — like leaving your phone outside the bathroom, adjusting toilet sitting positions, staying hydrated, and walking daily — help prevent painful flare-ups
Hemorrhoids develop when the veins in your rectum swell under too much pressure, leading to discomfort, itching, bleeding, and sometimes severe pain. Left unchecked, they progress into chronic irritation, repeated flare-ups, and, in serious cases, the need for surgery. What many people overlook is how small daily habits drive this process.
Sitting too long on the toilet is one of the biggest triggers, yet it often slips under the radar because it feels so harmless. The posture itself places constant downward force on those veins, and without pelvic support, they stay engorged until the tissue breaks down.
This is where modern life makes things worse. Smartphones have turned bathroom trips into extended breaks, and for many, the device has become a default companion. What seems like a few extra minutes of scrolling or reading news is enough to magnify the strain day after day.
Recognizing that connection is the first step to protecting yourself. By looking at how your daily choices shape even the most routine bodily functions, you start to see why new research has raised fresh concerns about hemorrhoids and how to prevent them.
Smartphones on the Toilet Raise Your Hemorrhoid Risk
A study published in PLOS One examines whether using a smartphone while on the toilet increases your risk of hemorrhoids.1 The research team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston surveyed adults undergoing colonoscopy about their bathroom behaviors, including phone use, diet, exercise, and bowel habits. They then compared those self-reports with colonoscopy findings, giving this investigation an unusually reliable foundation since the diagnosis of hemorrhoids was confirmed endoscopically.
The population studied was middle-aged and older adults — A total of 125 people participated, with an average age in the mid-50s to early 60s. About two-thirds admitted to bringing their phones into the bathroom, while one-third did not. Even though all were at the same clinic for colonoscopy, smartphone users had some key differences. They were younger on average, and they tended to exercise less each week compared to those who left their phones outside the bathroom.
Phones lengthen bathroom time — The research revealed that 37.3% of smartphone users spent more than five minutes per bathroom visit compared to just 7.1% of non-users. This was one of the most striking contrasts in the study. Even more interesting, only about a third of those people acknowledged that their phone use caused them to sit longer, showing a clear disconnect between perception and behavior.
The prevalence of hemorrhoids was high, especially among phone users — Endoscopic exams showed that 43% of all participants had hemorrhoids. When the data was analyzed further, smartphone use on the toilet stood out as an independent risk factor.
After controlling for age, sex, body mass index, straining, fiber intake, and exercise, smartphone use still increased the risk of hemorrhoids by 46%. This means the phone habit itself — rather than lifestyle or diet — was driving the increased risk.
The most common activities were reading news and browsing social media — More than half of users said they scrolled through news, while 44.4% checked social media while on the toilet. These activities are open-ended, with no natural stopping point, making it easy for minutes to slip away unnoticed. Unlike reading a magazine article or newspaper column, a smartphone's endless feed prolongs sitting time.
Time Spent on the Toilet Was More Predictive Than Straining
Historically, straining during bowel movements has been considered the main risk factor for hemorrhoids. Yet this study found no significant difference in straining between phone users and non-users.2 Instead, sitting time emerged as the stronger predictor. This suggests your posture and the uninterrupted pressure of sitting on a toilet seat matter more than whether you strain.
Prolonged sitting makes veins swell — Toilets are designed with an open seat, offering no support to your pelvic floor. Prolonged sitting in this position places continuous downward pressure on your rectal veins. Over time, that pressure enlarges the vascular cushions inside your rectum, leading to hemorrhoids. Sitting in a chair, by contrast, distributes pressure more evenly and offers pelvic support, which is why desk work does not have the same effect.
Smartphone users also had lower levels of physical activity — Toilet phone users reported less weekly exercise compared to non-users. This could indicate that heavy smartphone use in daily life reflects broader sedentary patterns. Reduced circulation from lack of movement slows healing and raises vulnerability to vein swelling, compounding the impact of longer bathroom sessions.
Age played a role in smartphone use on the toilet — People closer to age 55 were far more likely to use smartphones in the bathroom than those in their 60s. This shift reflects generational differences in technology habits. While younger adults associate bathroom time with multitasking, older adults were more likely to treat it as a quick necessity. This means your habits now — especially if you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s — could set the stage for hemorrhoids much earlier in life.
The risks are preventable — Limiting bathroom phone use to less than five minutes lowers the risk significantly. The researchers also emphasized that awareness is half the battle, since many users did not realize their devices were prolonging toilet time. By setting small goals — such as leaving your phone outside the bathroom — you take control of your health and cut down on behaviors that silently add to rectal pressure.
How to Fix the Habits That Lead to Hemorrhoids
If you've ever felt the sting, itch, or bleeding of hemorrhoids, you know how disruptive they are to your daily life. The good news is that this condition is not random — it grows out of habits that put too much pressure on the veins in your rectum. That means you have real control here. The fastest way to feel better and prevent flare-ups is to stop the behaviors that keep those veins swollen in the first place. Here are five steps that help:
Leave your phone outside the bathroom — If you scroll through news or social media while sitting on the toilet, it's time to break the habit. The longer you sit, the more pressure you load onto those veins. Keep your trips short — under five minutes. Think of it as a personal challenge: how quickly and comfortably can you finish without distraction?
Change your posture for better elimination — Your body is not designed to empty fully when you sit with your knees below your hips. That kinks your rectum and forces straining. Instead, mimic a squat. Place your feet on a stool, lean forward with your elbows on your knees, or cross on
United States
