Is Toilet Texting a Health Hazard? What Doctors Want You to Know

Your smartphone accompanies you everywhere, including to the bathroom. But experts warn spending time scrolling on the toilet can negatively impact health. They advise leaving phones outside for quicker, more hygienic bathroom breaks.

Dermatologist Dr. Joyce Park says extended toilet sitting heightens risks of developing hemorrhoids. The downward sloping toilet seat exerts added pressure on the lower rectum and anus. Prolonged straining from lengthy bathroom browsing can inflame veins in this area.

"When you sit on the toilet for too long, especially if you have obesity or are pregnant, then these veins start to bulge or get bigger, and that's when you develop hemorrhoids," explains gastroenterologist Dr. Harika Balagoni.

Hemorrhoids cause pain, swelling, bleeding and other symptoms. Park and other experts advise avoiding extended toilet time and associated straining whenever possible.

But bringing phones into bathrooms frequently leads to longer sessions. People get distracted browsing social media or reading articles. This may delay completion of bowel movements, warns Nathan Price, chief scientific officer at Thorne HealthTech.

Looking down at a phone screen also affects posture, which can hamper elimination. Price says improper angles make bowel movements more difficult, increasing risks of incomplete evacuation.

Incomplete evacuation is failing to fully empty bowels, resulting in retention of stool. This can worsen constipation. Experts recommend feet rests to improve posture. Limiting phone use also helps reduce bathroom duration.

Beyond health impacts, bringing phones into bathrooms raises cleanliness concerns. One study found cellphones carry 10 times more bacteria than toilet seats. Bathrooms then introduce more, especially from flushing.

Flushing propels microscopic fecal particles into a toilet "plume" that can reach several feet high. Keeping lids closed while flushing helps limit aerial dispersion of residual waste. But hands and phones still risk contact with bacteria.

Vigilant hand washing after bathroom use mitigates risks, but recontamination occurs if people then touch dirty phones. Phones carry bathroom bacteria back into surroundings and onto hands.

Yale University microbiology professor Dr. Sheldon Campbell says bathroom phone use mostly threatens others if unwashed hands spread germs. But for users, keeping phones away from toilets reduces risk of inadvertent transmission.

While most immune systems withstand routine germ exposures, Campbell warns bathroom phone handling could spread illness-causing organisms more widely. Like inadequate hand washing, lingering phone contamination can defeat hygiene efforts.

Experts concede most bathroom bacteria pose minimal risks day-to-day. But they emphasize basic precautions like closing toilet lids, washing hands, and keeping phones away further limit problems.

Curbing phone use also facilitates quicker and more complete bowel movements. This contributes to gastrointestinal health and comfort. Less straining helps prevent conditions like hemorrhoids.

So while bringing reading material into bathrooms is nothing new, experts advise against prolonged sessions on phones. Limiting browsing encourages finishing up sooner.

Scrolling through social media and news on phones often distracts and extends time sitting on toilets. But doctors say staying focused quickens bathroom breaks, avoiding extended straining.

For some, leaving phones outside bathrooms proves challenging in an ultra-connected world. But establishing this habit reduces health and hygiene worries.

Bathroom phone use is one small example of technology frequently dominating modern life. But experts say maintaining boundaries around appropriate phone use remains wise.

Phones undoubtedly deliver entertainment and information to bathrooms. But consumers now weigh that utility against emerging knowledge of potential drawbacks.

Ultimately, recommended limitations aim to improve bathroom experience and promote wellbeing. Following basic precautions helps preserve phones as tools, not health hazards.

Doctors again emphasize most bathroom bacteria pose minimal risk thanks to modern sanitation and hygiene. But limiting exposure is prudent for overall health.

Likewise, occasional extended toilet use is not catastrophically harmful. But developing good bathroom habits pays long-term dividends, experts advise.

In the end, recommended bathroom phone limits reflect risks versus rewards. Doctors say keeping browse time focused avoids problems down the line.

Phones are incredibly useful inventions with many benefits. But experts note their overuse in certain settings can backfire. Following common sense limits retains advantage while mitigating negatives.

For consumers, knowledge around bathroom phone use allows informed choices. While bad outcomes are unlikely from occasional extended toilet browsing, developing wise habits remains worthwhile.

Doctors aim to provide helpful guidance, not castigate bathroom phone use entirely. But modest limits preserve wellbeing against potential pitfalls.

Ultimately, recommended bathroom phone restrictions intend to optimize, not deprive, daily life. Letting go of devices briefly offers chances for mindfulness and self-care.