Scrolling through your phone on the toilet isn’t just a harmless modern habit—it could be quietly raising your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, led by researchers at Harvard-affiliated institution, delivers the most robust evidence yet: adults who use their phones while sitting on the toilet are 46% more likely to develop hemorrhoids compared to those who don’t.

The study closely tracked 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy, with nearly two-thirds admitting to routinely scrolling while seated. The result? Longer toilet sessions—often exceeding five minutes per visit—and a marked surge in hemorrhoid risk.

Why does this matter? Hemorrhoids affect millions each year, causing pain, itching, and sometimes bleeding. Yet the link between extended toilet time and this common condition has never been systematically scrutinised until now.

Researchers collected detailed behavioural data and correlated it with clinical findings during colonoscopy—a direct look at rectal tissue health. Participants ranged widely in age, and the core measurement was both self-reported toilet habits and medical examination for hemorrhoids.

The central finding emerges as an organising theme: prolonged toilet sessions, driven by phone use, create a surge of pressure in rectal veins—a pressure cascade that dramatically increases vulnerability to hemorrhoids.

This story upends the assumption that hemorrhoids are simply a consequence of ageing or diet. Instead, it points to a behavioural tipping point: the act of lingering on the toilet, often distracted by screens, generates back-pressure in sensitive rectal veins. The phenomenon is akin to kinking a garden hose—the longer the kink persists, the greater the backpressure and swelling.

How did researchers arrive at this conclusion? Participants were surveyed about their toilet habits, including frequency and duration of phone use. Colonoscopy procedures provided objective medical evidence of hemorrhoidal tissue changes, while questionnaires captured lifestyle variables such as physical activity levels.

The striking pattern: those who scrolled on their phones spent far longer on the toilet and tended to report lower levels of exercise overall—a double whammy for hemorrhoid risk.

This surge in risk matters not just for individuals but for clinical care and public health. Hemorrhoids may begin as minor discomfort—itching, swelling, or spotting after bowel movements—but can progress to significant pain or bleeding.

Recognising the connection between screen time and rectal vein pressure offers an actionable warning: spending less time scrolling in the bathroom may be a simple, effective means of prevention. Indeed, experts emphasise that constipation, straining, and prolonged sitting are the principal drivers behind hemorrhoids’ development, with phone use exacerbating these factors by encouraging longer sessions.

For anyone wondering what practical steps they can take, the recommendations are clear and concrete. First, limit your time on the toilet—aim for less than five minutes per visit and leave your phone outside. If you struggle with constipation or straining, increase your dietary fibre intake to 25–30 grams daily from fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.

Hydrate consistently: drink a glass of water with every meal to help stool remain soft and easy to pass. Physical movement is essential—even light walking helps maintain bowel regularity and reduces rectal vein pressure. To optimise toilet posture, consider placing a small footstool under your feet; raising your knees gently shifts your body into a more natural position for defecation and minimises straining.

For clinicians and researchers, these findings call for renewed focus on behavioural risk factors—not just traditional markers like diet or genetics. Screening patients for toilet habits should become routine in assessments of anal or rectal health.

When patients present with symptoms such as persistent bleeding, pain unresponsive to over-the-counter treatments, or dark stools, clinicians should probe not only for dietary and activity patterns but also for device use during bathroom visits.

Treatment remains straightforward for mild cases—topical creams or suppositories, sitz baths and cold compresses—but recurrent or severe symptoms may require procedural interventions such as rubber band ligation or sclerotherapy. Above all, clinicians should counsel patients on the pressure cascade triggered by prolonged sitting and encourage behavioural modifications as first-line prevention.

That said, every study comes with caveats. This research was cross-sectional—capturing data at one point in time rather than following participants longitudinally—so we cannot definitively say that phone use causes hemorrhoids; rather, it is strongly associated with increased risk.

The sample size (125 adults) is modest and drawn from a single medical centre in Boston, US; future studies will need broader populations to confirm generalisability across ethnicities and lifestyles. The age range was not explicitly published, though participants were all adults undergoing colonoscopy—a group that may differ from the general population in terms of underlying health.

Nevertheless, the implications ripple outwards for public health messaging and drug development. If simple behavioural tweaks—less time on the toilet, more fibre and hydration—can substantially lower hemorrhoid incidence, then educational campaigns should target not just older adults but anyone accustomed to scrolling through social media while seated.

For pharmaceutical companies and device makers, there’s an opportunity to reframe prevention: new therapies might focus on reducing venous pressure or inflammation in rectal tissue rather than treating symptoms after they arise.

The central motif—the pressure cascade triggered by prolonged toilet sessions—should anchor future research and intervention strategies. Just as hypertension management has shifted towards early lifestyle modification before drugs are needed, so too should hemorrhoid prevention emphasise early behavioural change rather than post-symptom treatment.

Let’s step back and consider why this matters now more than ever. With mobile phone use at record levels globally and sedentary lifestyles increasingly common, millions may be unwittingly exposing themselves to higher risks of anal discomfort and bleeding.

The new findings don’t suggest panic—but they do call for prompt action. For readers at home: take stock of your own habits. Do you scroll through emails or social media while seated? If so, challenge yourself to leave your device outside; not only will this reduce pressure on delicate veins but it may also speed up your visits.

Public health officials should consider updating guidelines for bathroom behaviour alongside existing advice on diet and exercise. If the bathroom has become a new frontier for health risk thanks to our devices, then interventions must meet people where they are—sometimes literally.

This story also reminds us that technology shapes our bodies as much as our minds. What seems trivial—a few extra minutes scrolling—can spark a cascade of physiological change in tissues we rarely consider until something goes wrong.

Hemorrhoids are not merely an inevitable part of ageing or poor diet but may be a preventable consequence of how we use technology in intimate settings. By acting early—limiting screen time on the toilet, eating more fibre, staying hydrated and moving often—we can interrupt the pressure cascade before damage accumulates. Consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your behaviour or diet; individual needs vary.

Hemorrhoids are common but not unavoidable. The real tipping point may be in your pocket—or rather, keeping it out of your pocket when you sit down in the bathroom. Prevention starts with awareness; change follows from action.