Using the phone in the bathroom may increase the risk of hemorrhoids, according to a recent study. 

In the study, colonoscopies were taken from a sample of 125 adults excluding factors such as age, exercising and fiber intake. Those who reported that they use their phones while on the toilet had a 46% higher risk of having hemorrhoids. 

According to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, hemorrhoids are inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum region. They are caused by straining during bowel movements, a low-fiber diet, chronic constipation and other bowel related factors.

Hemorrhoids can be caused by sitting on the toilet for an excessive amount of time, which is directly influenced by the distraction that cell phones harbor. 

The distraction of the cell phone shifts away from the initial goal of releasing bowel movements quickly and excreting as much or all the waste out of the system. 

Instead, people doomscroll through news feeds and social media, forgetting why they’re in the bathroom. Despite the length of time, excretion of bowels is sometimes incomplete.

Sitting on the toilet for a long period of time can cause hemorrhoids due to the pressure it exerts on the anus and rectum. The study explained that there are hemorrhoidal cushions on the pelvic floor and when seated on the toilet, there is no support for the pelvic floor. This causes blood pooling on the cushions, making the veins engorge and causing hemorrhoids.

The study demonstrated that small normalities in daily living can affect our health more than we think. Examples include posture when sitting on other surfaces, similar to the posture on toilets. 

Another habit mentioned was being distracted and missing bodily cues. Since phones are a distraction, they can cause the brain to ignore signals the body sends, as the brain is occupied with taking in the information on the phones and the emitted blue light.