Nine in 10 guilty of dirty bathroom habit that is fueling miserable surge in hemorrhoids, study finds
Research shows one in three people who receive a colonoscopy are diagnosed with hemorrhoids, with the condition accounting for about 4million doctors and hospital visits per year.
In 2025, the hemorrhoids treatment market is projected to reach $1.75billion, up from $1.67billion in 2024. According to Market Research Future, that number is projected to rise to $2.6billion by 2034.
And the number of Americans searching online for information on hemorrhoids increased five-fold between 2004 and 2023, a DailyMail.com analysis of Google Trends found.
Hemorrhoids can be caused by many things, including straining during bowel movements, constipation, heavy lifting, sitting for long periods of time and pregnancy, but experts are increasingly pointing to phone use in the bathroom as a major culprit.
A 2021 survey revealed about three-quarters of Americans bring their phones with them into the bathroom. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, this jumped to nearly all respondents.
This phone use extends the time you are sitting on the toilet, and prolonged sitting leads to increased pressure on the veins in the anus and lower rectum, which can cause them to swell and become inflamed, causing hemorrhoids.
A poor diet or lack of fiber, which 95 percent of Americans do not get enough of in their diet, may also be contributing, as not enough fiber and dehydration can lead to constipation and straining.
A new survey out of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found that people who use their phones on the toilet face a 46 percent increased risk for hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.
They may develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids).
Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives, according to The Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms include blood in your stool, persistent discomfort, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation when having a bowel movement.
In more severe cases, sufferers may notice a lump in or around the anus, which may be tender or cause pain.
Rectal prolapse, which occurs when the rectum slips out of its normal position, potentially through the anus, is a condition similar to hemorrhoids and the two can be confused.
However, the symptoms are slightly different, with the most common complaints being constipation, itching, pain and bleeding in the rectum and mucus discharge in the stool.
While most cases of hemorrhoids can be managed with lifestyle changes, over-the-counter treatments or minor procedures, rectal prolapse typically requires more intensive medical intervention.
In both cases, prevention is far preferable to cure.
The recent survey from Beth Israel, presented at the Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) conference in San Diego, considered 125 participants who were receiving a colonoscopy.
More than 40 percent had a hemorrhoid, and 93 percent said they used their phone on the toilet at least once a week.
About half that group said they read news on the toilet, whereas about 44 percent said they were on social media, and about 30 percent were emailing or texting.
Overall, 66 percent of respondents used smartphones while on the toilet.
The majority (93 percent) of those used a smartphone on the toilet at least one to two times per week or more, and more than half (55 percent) used it most of the time.
Smartphone use on the toilet was associated with a 46 percent increased risk for hemorrhoids after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, exercise activity, and fiber intake.
Participants who used smartphones on the toilet spent significantly more time there than those who did not.
More than a third (37 percent) of them spent more than six minutes per bathroom visit on the toilet compared with seven percent of nonusers, and 35 percent said they believed they spent more time on the toilet because of their smartphone use.
The 2021 study found 73 percent of people bring their phone with them into the bathroom.
This number climbed further when it came to younger people aged 18 to 29, with 93 percent of this age group admitting to using their phones on the toilet, regardless of gender.
Although there is no universally agreed 'safe' length of time to spend on the toilet, most gastroenterologists agree that if a bowel movement doesn't happen within five to 10 minutes, it's best to get up, move around and try again later.
Going for a short walk or gently moving the body can help stimulate bowel motility naturally, without the need to strain.
Dietary habits also play a role.
Low-fiber diets, dehydration and a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to constipation and harder stools, which increase the likelihood of straining.
Doctors recommend eating more fiber-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, beans and whole grains, as well as drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Physical activity, even just light daily movement, can also improve digestion and reduce the chances of constipation.
As for technology in the bathroom, Dr Farah Monzur, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, said keeping phones and reading material out of the bathroom may be one of the simplest and most effective ways to change toilet habits.
Dr Monzur said that going to the toilet should be treated as a functional event rather than an opportunity to catch up on emails or social media.
'You don't want to go with the mindset that you'll be there for a long time,' she explained.
'Because then you'll want to bring something to keep your mind occupied, and that's what encourages this extended sitting.
'Make sitting on the toilet as uninteresting as possible.'
WHAT ARE HEMORRHOIDS?
Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.
They may develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids).
Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time, according to The Mayo Clinic.
The veins around your anus tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell.
Hemorrhoids can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to straining when going to the toilet, sitting for long periods of time on the toilet, having chronic diarrhea or constipation, being obese or pregnant, having anal intercourse, eating a low-fiber diet or regularly lifting heavy weights.
Symptoms of piles include:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
We took part in America's largest ever study on how to beat dementia. These simple lifestyle changes de-aged our brains
Phyllis Jones spent nearly 10 years watching her mother succumb to Alzheimer's. Decades earlier, her mother had taken care of her grandmother the same way, as she was also struck by the most common form of memory-robbing dementia. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie mum-of-two's sudden death on Greek island baffles loved ones
An Australian mother-of-two who started convulsing and then died just two days into a five-week trip is being mourned by her devastated loved ones. Queensland woman Emma Sophios, 47, had planned to spend over a month relaxing with her family on the Mediterranean island of Cythera. But two days into her trip, the IGA worker suddenly started convulsing after she lay down to rest at a family member's home. Her loved ones frantically called paramedics, but she sadly couldn't be saved. 'She landed over there... laid down at the family house, laid down and that's it,' her partner Evalyn Hart, also 47, told the Daily Mail. Ms Hart said the mother-of-two had experienced health issues in the past but that her death had come as a total shock to her friends and family. Ms Sophios had dedicated her life to raising her 22-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son, who battles primary lymphoedema in his face. The genetic condition can cause swelling in various parts of the body, including the face and neck, and occurs when the lymphatic system doesn't develop properly. 'She was a bit of a centrifuge in their lives, and selfless in her own life. She worked at the IGA as a checkout person and lots of customers adored her,' Ms Hart said. 'She was a glowy, warm person who remembered people's stories and remembered little details of their lives. She had a gravity.' Her former partner and father of her two children, Robert George, also paid tribute. 'Though Emma and I went our separate ways in life, she will always hold a profound place in my heart for the incredible role she played in bringing our children into this world. Her passing is an unthinkable loss,' he wrote. Friend Kendyll Rivers wrote: '(Ms Sophios), a shining light in the lives of those who knew her, left this world far too soon. (It) was supposed to be a rejuvenating getaway to Greece, fate had other plans.' Ms Rivers has organised a GoFundMe for Ms Sophios' family. '(It) aims to support Emma's family during this unimaginably difficult time, covering funeral expenses and providing comfort as they navigate their profound loss,' she wrote.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Why is everyone wearing weighted vests? I tried one for two weeks
A few months ago, something changed. One minute, people were trudging along as usual; the next it seemed like every third person I passed on the street was wearing a weird, heavy little backpack. Initially, I mistook several of these bulky, menacing items for bulletproof vests. (Scary.) Eventually, I realized they were simply the latest fitness trend: weighted vests. Celebrities have been sporting them on walks, Peloton instructors are making videos explaining how to use them, and influencers are peddling them on TikTok. Publications have written about their growing popularity among 'the menopause set', as Allure put it, because of their supposed ability to help with muscle strength and bone density as one ages. 'It really has gotten so much attention lately,' says Dr Elaina Manolis, a physical therapist and clinical professor at Northeastern University. The practice used to be called 'rucking', she notes, because people would walk with heavy rucksacks. One reason for this spike is that the vests don't look so much like bulky backpacks anymore, Manolis suspects: 'They're sleek and cute,' she says. She also believes it's part of a bigger societal trend. 'Culture has shifted so much for the positive in women's health, and in understanding the importance of strength training and bone density,' she says. So are weighted vests the miracle workout upgrade some claim? I tried one for two weeks, and asked experts for advice. They are vests that are weighed down with iron sand or small weights. 'They can be thought of as 'hyper-gravity',' says Dr Abbi Lane, assistant professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan. 'They add a little bit more weight and resistance.' Typically, they weigh anywhere from five to 30lbs (2.26 to 13.6kg), and are worn across the shoulders and upper torso. Some are small, with straps across the chest. Others are bigger, cover most of the torso and look disconcertingly like bulletproof vests. 'Start with a vest that's no more than five to 10% of your body weight, and build from there,' says Dr Mary Claire Haver, obstetrician-gynecologist and medical advisory board member of Let's Talk Menopause. I ordered a 16lb (7.25 kg) vest by a brand called Prodigen that seemed relatively comfortable and wouldn't make me look like I was on my way to a gun range. Weighted vests are different to other equipment in that they can be worn pretty much anywhere and at any time. 'Whereas you might do resistance training in a gym for 30 minutes twice a week, you could put on the weighted vest during other activities,' says Lane. It's still best to limit one's use though, especially in the beginning. 'I don't recommend it for everyday use,' says Manolis. Most daily tasks involve a lot of bending and stretching, and adding weight raises the risk of injury. Manolis recommends wearing a vest when walking – which she calls 'a very underrated exercise as it is' – because you are in an upright posture and the potential for injury is much lower. If you are confident in the vest, you can also use it for 'light aerobics, strength training and even short bouts of running', says Haver. Make sure your joints can tolerate the load though. Start by wearing the vest for a short period of time, then build up. 'Aim for 20-30 minutes a day, and listen to your body,' says Haver. Twice a week, for two weeks, I wore my vest for my current favorite physical activity: walking on the treadmill in the air conditioned gym while watching Vera on my iPad. When I first strapped it on, the vest felt heavy but oddly comforting – like a thunder shirt for dogs. As I started walking, I was surprised by how off-balance I felt. It took me a few minutes to find my stride, and holding myself upright and centered required more core strength than I had expected. By the time my 30 minutes was up, DCI Vera Stanhope had realized that all was not as it seemed in her murder case, and I was breathing noticeably harder than usual. Why did it feel more challenging? I have previously weighed 16lbs more than I do now, and I don't recall feeling more tired when I walked. When you wear a vest, 'the weight is not distributed throughout the body,' explains Lane. 'When I was 16lbs heavier, my legs and arms were bigger too. When you have the vest, it's all in one place and you have to adjust your center of mass,' she says. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion This challenges your balance, but it's important that the vest not be so heavy that it requires you to significantly change your gait. 'That's how injuries can happen,' she says. Over time, I felt less off-kilter when I wore the vest. My walks felt more intense than usual, but not unpleasant. Weighing down your body with a weighted vest has a number of benefits, says Manolis. When your body is heavier, moving requires more muscle, she explains. And over time, as more muscle develops, strength improves. The greater weight will also require more energy to move, and thus your body will burn more calories. Some research shows that long-term use of weighted vests can prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women, a population particularly at risk for low bone density and resulting conditions like osteopenia and osteoporosis. Manolis suggests that this may be because the added top-down pressure that a vest places on one's skeletal system can improve how quickly bones repair themselves. Most studies on weighted vests and bone density have been small though, warns Lane – fewer than 20 people. The biggest study on the topic had 150 participants. The one-year, randomized control trial explored whether exercising with a weighted vest could offset bone loss in older adults who were trying to lose weight. It did not. 'The research here is not super fleshed out yet,' Lane says. The flexibility and affordability of weighted vests mean they can still be a useful piece of equipment. 'We're finally talking about muscle and bone loss in midlife women,' says Haver. 'And weighted vests are a simple, affordable way to help combat that.' Ideally though, they would be used in conjunction with other forms of cardio and strength training. 'I think of things like weighted vests as the cherry on top,' says Lane. 'Potentially beneficial, but nothing replaces aerobic and resistance exercise.' The greatest risks come from wearing a vest that is too heavy, or wearing one for too long. 'It can cause joint strain, poor posture, or even back or knee pain,' says Haver. Proper fit and gradual progression are key, she says. And if you ever feel discomfort, stop. 'Don't push through pain,' she warns. I've worn my weighted vest a few more times since my two-week trial. I don't love how sweaty it makes me. I'm also not sure about the best way to clean it as the manufacturer didn't provide any instructions. (I've been using cleaning wipes – please don't tell me if this is wrong.) But it is a nice way to add some difficulty and novelty to my Vera walks. Still, I don't think it's going to become a staple in my routine. I strength train several times a week, and a set of heavy squats feels like a more effective, challenging and satisfying way of strengthening my legs and bones than walking with 16lbs of extra weight. I did enjoy that it made me look like an action movie hero though. When I asked my partner how I looked in it, he responded: 'Tactical.' That's way cooler than my usual gym look: sweaty 30-something woman in a Rainforest Cafe T-shirt.
