That quick scroll on the pot may feel like harmless ‘me-time’, but doctors say it’s quietly fueling a surge in piles, constipation, and even mental health issues.
It’s an only-too familiar morning routine — wake up, check your phone, drink coffee or tea, take your phone to the bathroom, sit on the pot and scroll. So common is the habit that memes show young men going into the bathroom with their phones and coming out all old and bearded, like Rip Van Winkle. Jokes apart, toilets aren’t just a place to take a dump anymore. They have turned into personal retreats where people sit and surf for hours, without worrying about the burdens of the world. Till the habit bites you in the butt, quite literally.
Trips to the bathroom were ‘zen moments’ for scrolling social media, checking emails and binge-watching videos that stretched his toilet time to 30-40 minutes daily. This ‘me time’ soon turned to misery as minor discomfort escalated to excruciating pain. Before long, a doctor diagnosed him with grade III hemorrhoids or piles.
‘Prolonged sitting on a western-style toilet causes venous pooling (accumulation of blood) in the rectal veins, weakening the pelvic floor muscles over time. This, coupled with chronic straining, leads to conditions like internal mucosal prolapse (when the rectum’s mucous lining turns inside out and pokes out of the anus) and hemorrhoids.”
90% of the patients admitted to using mobile phones on the commode. And 27% of them spent over 15 minutes per session. 1,535 had a history of chronic constipation, and around 1,250 patients even required surgery.
For many young professionals, the bathroom serves as a respite from the daily pressures of work and social obligations — even leading to the term, ‘toilet escapism’.
“It’s one of the few places where people feel they can be alone, free from distractions, a sanctuary where they can unwind and scroll endlessly. Though this habit offers short-term relief, it has long-term consequences.”
It’s not just an Indian habit. Toilet scrolling a global issue, with the Spanish, doing it the most (around 80%). Canadians prefer playing games in the loo, while Americans chat or call people. The French do a bit of everything — reading news, gaming and social media scrolling.
HOW LONG IS TOO LONG?:
Without a smartphone, people spend about seven minutes in the toilet, whereas with one, it extends to around 22 minutes. Doctors advise not to sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes. For every additional minute spent using a smartphone in the lavatory the likelihood of getting hemorrhoids increases by 1.26 times.
INDIAN-STYLE IS BEST:
Unlike squatting in Indian-style toilet, which naturally aligns the body for easier bowel movements, sitting on a commode for extended periods causes delayed defecation and excessive straining. “When you sit there for a long time in a relaxed state, the natural urge to defecate weakens, sowing down gut mobility and leading to chronic constipation. This sets off a vicious cycle — constipation leads to straining, which increases the risk of hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse.”
“The open oval-shaped toilet seat compresses the buttocks, keeping the rectum in a lower position than the rest of the body. As gravity pulls the lower half of the body down, the increased pressure affects blood circulation, leading to a one-way valve where blood enters but can’t really go back. Over time, as blood vessels around the anus and lower rectum puff up with more blood, the risk of hemorrhoids rises.
UNHYGIENIEC TOO:
And let’s face it, it’s rather gross to sit on the pot and doom scroll with your fingers. Toilets are a store-house of germs, and smartphones carry these germs to your bedside.
At least 20 cases of excessive smartphone use in bathrooms per month. “Common symptoms include lack of focus, anxiety, declining work performance and social withdrawal. Many college students report these issues, and further questioning often reveals excessive screen time, especially in the bathroom.”
“It’s time we start viewing the bathroom as what it truly is — a functional necessity, not a lounge.”
