SAEDNEWS: Spending a long time using a phone while sitting in the bathroom can cause serious risks to the pelvic muscles. Doctors warn that sitting on the toilet for more than 10 minutes may lead to severe injuries and even medical emergencies.
According to the Saednews Family Magazine Service, We have often seen people take their mobile phones into the bathroom during bowel movements and, instead of spending two or three minutes, sit on the toilet for 15 minutes or more, scrolling through social media or even posting content—something experts warn can be dangerous. According to CNN, citing Dr. Lai Zhou, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Medical Center, this habit increases the risk of hemorrhoids and may even weaken pelvic floor muscles.
According to the report, a young man living in China followed his usual habit of going to the toilet with his phone. He became so absorbed in a game that he did not notice 30 minutes passing. The moment he tried to stand up, disaster struck: a “large mass” had protruded from between his legs.
A pelvic CT scan taken at the hospital revealed everything. The area marked in red showed a massive soft tissue mass about 16 centimeters in diameter. In reality, this mass was the rectum, which had completely prolapsed out of the body.
Prolonged toilet sitting due to phone use can relax the pelvic muscles and allow internal organs to be displaced by gravity. The patient underwent emergency surgery immediately. The treating physician warned: “Time spent sitting on the toilet should not exceed 10 minutes.”
According to The Independent, Dr. Farah Manzur, an assistant professor of medicine in New York, says the average recommended time spent on the toilet is 5 to 10 minutes. The reason longer sitting causes problems comes down to a simple physical principle: gravity.
Gravity keeps us grounded and also makes circulation more difficult. The design of a toilet seat compresses the buttocks, placing the rectum in a lower position compared to sitting on a chair or sofa. Gravity pulls the lower body downward, increasing pressure on blood circulation. As a result, veins around the anus and lower rectum become swollen and engorged, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids.
Straining puts pressure on the anus and increases the risk of hemorrhoids. People who use their phones during bowel movements lose track of time and may unintentionally put more strain on their bodies. Spending too long on the toilet also stresses the anal region and pelvic floor muscles. Long-term sitting on the toilet can weaken pelvic muscles and increase the risk of rectal prolapse, a condition in which part of the large intestine slips downward and protrudes out of the anus.
For this reason, experts recommend not taking your phone into the toilet and removing magazines or newspapers from the bathroom. Dr. Zhou advises not to spend more than 10 minutes during bowel movements. If you have difficulty, you should stand up, walk around, and stimulate bowel activity.
To prevent straining, it is also recommended to drink enough water and consume fiber-rich foods such as oats and beans to support regular bowel movements. Daily intake of 2 to 3 liters of water and 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories is suggested.
However, some people may spend longer in the bathroom due to medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. Chronic constipation and prolonged toilet sitting may also be signs of more serious conditions, including colorectal cancer. Since colorectal cancer has become more common in people under 50, experts emphasize seeking medical advice if any unusual symptoms appear.
