Let’s be honest — people have a habit of taking their cell phones into the bathroom. I’ve done it myself, and chances are someone is sitting on the toilet reading this article right now. A three-minute bathroom break can easily turn into 15 minutes of reading, scrolling, and posting.
It might seem like a harmless way to pass the time when you’re doing number two. However, experts warn that what they call “prolonged sitting” on the toilet can harm your health. This has even been linked to an increased risk of hemorrhoids and weakened pelvic muscles, said Dr. Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
“When patients come to me with complaints, one of the main areas we need to deeply investigate is time spent on the toilet,” Xue said. Here’s what happens when you spend too much time in the bathroom.
Bowel problems caused by sitting for too long
People should spend an average of five to 10 minutes in the bathroom, according to Dr. Farah Monzur, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Stony Brook Medicine in Long Island, New York.
Why is it a problem if you stay longer? First, here’s a brief physics lesson. Gravity keeps us grounded, but that same gravity also forces the body to work harder to pump blood back to the heart, Xue explained. The open oval 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 your body downward, the increased pressure affects your blood circulation.
“It becomes a one-way street where the blood comes in but can’t really go back out,” Xue said. As a result, the veins and blood vessels around the anus and lower rectum become dilated and engorged with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids.
Better not to force
Forced exertion can also increase pressure, allowing hemorrhoids to develop. People who scroll through their phones in the bathroom tend to lose track of time, Monzur said, sitting up and straining their muscles to have a bowel movement.
And guess what? Your doctors may notice this. “Currently, we are seeing an increase in the number of people spending more time on the toilet, and this is very harmful to the anorectal organs and pelvic floor,” Xue added.
In addition to weakened anal muscles and forced straining, Monzur said sitting on the toilet for a long time can also increase the risk of rectal prolapse. A rectal prolapse is when the rectum, part of the large intestine, slides down and protrudes out of the anus.
The pelvic floor muscles are another type of muscle weakened by prolonged sitting on the toilet. Xue explained that the pelvic floor muscles coordinate a significant amount of bowel movement and work with the rest of the body to ensure stool passes out smoothly. Gravitational pressure on the pelvic floor strains the muscles when sitting constantly for long periods.
Be more aware of the time you spend in the bathroom
To avoid spending too much time on the porcelain throne, Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California, advised keeping cellphones, magazines and books out of the bathroom.
“You shouldn’t go in with the mentality that you’re going to be there for a long time. Because then you’ll want to bring something to keep your mind busy,” Monzur said. “Make sitting on the toilet as uninteresting as possible.”
If you’re having trouble relieving yourself, Xue advised giving up after 10 minutes. Instead, walk around a bit — as movement can stimulate your intestinal muscles to produce a bowel movement. Xue also recommended staying hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods, such as oats and beans, to produce regular bowel movements and avoid straining.
Need to know how much? The National Academy of Medicine recommends 2.7 to 3.7 liters of water daily. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories of food. Xue said fiber and water soften stool, making it easier to pass.
Long periods in the bathroom and colorectal cancer
There are situations, however, where people need to spend an unusual amount of time in the bathroom. Constant difficulty or discomfort when having a bowel movement can be symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Constipation that gets worse or the need to sit on the toilet for a long time can also be signs of cancer.
“If a growth inside the colon gets big enough, it can block the flow of stool, which can cause constipation and bleeding,” Uradomo said.
The American Cancer Society recently reported an increase in colorectal cancer rates among people under age 55 since the mid-1990s, and the nonprofit organization estimated there would be 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer. this year.
In Uradomo’s career, he recalled more young people talking to him about hemorrhoids and constipation and later being diagnosed with rectal cancer. If you’ve had these symptoms of constipation or needing to sit on the toilet for a long time for more than three weeks, Monzur said it may be time to take your concerns to your doctor. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your primary care doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon for further evaluation.
*Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is a freelance health and science journalist based in New York
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This content was originally published in Using your cell phone while in the bathroom is harmful to your butt on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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