Let us be honest, people have a habit of bringing their phones to the bathroom. I have been guilty of it myself. A three-minute trip to the loo can easily turn into 15 minutes of reading, scrolling and posting.
It might seem like a harmless way to pass the time when you are going number two. However, experts warn that what they call prolonged sitting on the toilet can harm your health.
A video went viral on TikTok after a doctor shared what can happen if you sit on the toilet for too long, warning of the risk of haemorrhoids.
The video, which has racked up 32.5 million views and 260 000 likes since it was posted, consists of emergency medicine physician Dr Joe Whittington; who goes by Dr Joe Online.
The caption on the video read: “When I tell my patients that prolonged sitting on the toilet causes blood to pool in your anal veins which may cause haemorrhoids to form, so you are best to not spend time sitting and scrolling.’
In the video, the doctor mentioned that this was a reminder of how common certain health practices are and how many of us could use a little guidance on the impact of everyday habits.
Why is it a problem if you stay longer? First, here’s a short physics lesson. Gravity keeps us grounded on Earth, but that same gravity also forces the body to work harder to pump blood back up to the heart.
The open oval-shaped toilet seat compresses the buttocks, keeping the rectum in a lower position than if you were sitting on the couch.
With gravity pulling the lower half of the body down, the increased pressure affects your blood circulation.
Experts say you should not spend more than 10 minutes in the toilet because prolonged sitting on the toilet has been connected to an increased risk of haemorrhoids and weakened pelvic muscles.
According to the doctor, sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods can put unnecessary pressure on the veins in the lower rectum, which over time, can lead to issues like haemorrhoids. This is especially true if you are straining, but even just sitting there for an extended period can contribute to swelling of the veins around the anus, which is how haemorrhoids develop.
Symptoms may include bleeding after passing a stool, anal itching, tender lumps inside or hanging out of the anus, mucus or blood after passing a stool and soreness, redness and swelling around the anus.
In addition to weakened anal muscles and forced straining, sitting on the toilet bowl for too long can also increase the risk of rectal prolapse. A rectal prolapse is when the rectum, part of the large intestine, slips down and bulges out of the anus.
Be more mindful of bathroom time
To avoid spending too much time on the porcelain throne, doctors advised keeping phones, magazines and books out of the bathroom.
If you’re sitting there for a while because you haven’t dropped the poop you went in there to drop, they recommend quitting after 10 minutes and maybe, walking around a little to stimulate your gut. Then maybe consider adding some more water and fibre to your diet.
Or, better yet, get yourself a squatty potty, one of those footstools that raise your feet so that when you’re pooping in a way that’s more in line with how our bodies are designed to poop.
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