From writers discovering plot twists to composers creating feet tapping melodies, tales of loo-inspired breakthroughs abound. In today’s hyper-digitised world, smartphones have invaded this private space, particularly among youngsters. However, doctors want you to leave your smartphones outside the toilet. Beyond shrinking attention spans and unhygienic screens, prolonged phone use on the toilet may be associated with an increased risk of haemorrhoids.
The Gut Talk
A study published in September 2025, led by Chethan Ramprasad of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the US, found that people who used smartphones while on the toilet had a 46% higher risk of haemorrhoids than those who did not.“Prolonged sitting puts pressure on the blood vessels in the anal and rectal region. Straining to pass stool adds to this pressure, causing the vessels to swell,” explains Dr Nirdesh Chauhan, a gastroenterologist at Fortis. He adds that spending too long on the toilet can contribute to haemorrhoids and aggravate an existing condition.
“The phone’s distraction may encourage a person to continue sitting even after the bowel movement has finished,” states Chauhan. “This may lead to unnecessary straining because they remain focused on completing the bowel movement while using the phone, hence increasing the risk of haemorrhoids, irrespective of age.”
FOMO Creates FOMite
Experts say that carrying phones while attending nature’s call can also cause contamination of our phone screens. “One’s hygiene is certainly compromised while taking the phone to the toilet. One always has the risk of getting the phone contaminated by fecal bacteria.” says Dr. Sanjeev Khanna, a consulting gastroenterologist at Criticare Asia.
The bacteria go by fancy names like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and even viruses like rota virus. “When these can get implanted on the phone from unwashed hands or from toilet secretions, our phones carry the risk of becoming fomites,” says Khanna. Fomite is an object that can become contaminated with infectious agents — such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi — and passively transfer them to a new host.
“This risks pathogens being transmitted from the hand to the mouth or from the eyes to the other sensitive areas of the body. Carrying a phone to the toilet is fraught with hygiene risks and risk of picking serious health infections,” adds Khanna.
Experts recommend proper hand wash practices after using the toilet and a thorough cleaning of phone surfaces.
Escape From Silence
Viewing the habit from a psychological perspective, Anuna Bordoloi, a consultant in mental health & behavioural sciences, Fortis says that phenomenon is an expression of a more general tendency toward continuous stimulation. She further explains that the practice does not mean that there is an addiction problem with the person. Nevertheless, when all pauses get occupied with scrolling, it might affect one’s chances to relax mentally.
“The urge for constant stimulation is best understood as a learned survival strategy: the nervous system has been conditioned often by the very design of our digital environments to anticipate frequent novelty, instant feedback, and elevated arousal,” Bordoloi states.
Each swipe or tap delivers a small, quick reward: a new clip, a like, a message that triggers a brief surge of dopamine. The result is a cycle where real life starts to feel flat unless it matches that pace and intensity.
“Constant stimulation also functions as a way to keep difficult thoughts, emotions, or bodily sensations at bay. If being alone with your mind brings up anxiety or uncertainty, it’s very human to fill every gap with content, chatter, or activity. The stimulation isn’t just pleasurable; it’s protective,” Bordoloi adds.
Hence, it is worth exploring why our mundane routines become the triggers to grab your phone.
A Plausible Cure
“A reasonable time to spend in the toilet would be between one and five minutes. That is what usually would happen if you have a proper urge to go to the toilet and don’t engage in addictive scrolling”, says Khanna.
As per Chauhan, using a phone while defecating can alter toilet behaviour mainly by extending the time spent there. “Distraction may encourage a person to continue sitting even after the bowel movement has finished. Even our delayed response to the natural urge to pass stool is concerning as repeatedly ignoring bowel signals can contribute to irregular bowel habits,” he states.
Loo & Behold
Bordoloi states that the habit is a behavioural conditioning where one activity can act as a stimulus to perform the next activity. Recognize the trigger and desensitize to the stimulus. “Leave the phone outside the loo and substitute the habit with just some minutes of silence. Moreover, turning off notifications and limiting the time may make phone usage less automatic. When phone use becomes uncontrollable in many spheres of one’s life, it is advisable to do psychological testing”, she explains. Hence, taking your smartphone to the loo is nothing but a pile of trouble!
Toilet & Phone: Ek Prem Katha
• People who use smartphones during bathroom visits had a 46% higher risk of haemorrhoids compared to those who don’t.
• Studies claim that mobile phones are 8x dirtier than a toilet seat, leather cases are the worst.
A phone is almost a part of one’s anatomy in this modern age and one always has the risk of getting the phone contaminated by fecal bacteria.”
— Dr. Sanjeev Khanna, Consulting Gastroenterologist
“Sitting for long hours in the toilet has the potential to cause haemorrhoids and may even worsen an existing condition.”
— Dr. Nirdesh Chauhan, Consulting Gastroenterologist
“When all pauses get occupied with scrolling, it might affect one’s chances to relax mentally.”
— Anuna Bordoloi, Consultant (Mental health & Behavioural sciences)
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
