Why taking your phone to the loo can give you lifelong problems

When you take your phone to the washroom, you are likely to spend more time on the toilet seat. This prolonged sitting can lead to serious health issues like haemorrhoids.

Your bathroom is the place where your mind is most active, the place where you get those crazy ideas, the one spot where it’s just you and your thoughts. Umm... no more. Now, it is you and your phone, a habit that’s more dangerous for your health than you think it is.

Let’s just admit it - we all take our phones to the washroom now. Whether it’s that morning trip to the loo or those frequent bathroom breaks at work, the phone always tags along. Chances are not bleak that you are reading this also... well... on your toilet seat.

Gross germs

When you take your phone to the washroom, a lot of harmful things can happen - starting with the germs. It’s dirty in there, and we all know it. Using a phone in the bathroom means contaminating it with harmful bacteria, which can easily spread outside the washroom, leading to illnesses like stomach bugs.

Yet, despite the widely known connection between bathrooms, germs, and phones, it hasn’t stopped people from bringing their phones along.

Painful piles (haemorrhoids)

But beyond the obvious germ factor, this habit invites a whole list of other health issues—ones that could stick with you for a long time, like haemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in and around the anus and lower rectum. The condition can make pooping really painful.

“Using mobile phones in the washroom has become an increasingly common habit, but it poses significant health risks. Prolonged sitting on the toilet can lead to excessive pressure on the rectal veins, contributing to haemorrhoids. The body’s natural position for bowel movements is to be quick and efficient, but distractions from mobile devices often delay the process,” says Dr Mahesh Gupta, senior consultant, gastroenterology, Dharamshila Narayana Hospital, New Delhi.

Have you ever taken a U-turn on your way to the washroom because you forgot to grab your phone? If yes, you’d probably agree that you spend more time on the toilet seat than necessary. While the real business is over in a few minutes, doomscrolling, the urge to watch one more Reel, or finish that episode keeps you on the toilet seat for much longer. Before you know it, half an hour has passed.

It is this prolonged sitting in the washroom which causes constipation and can lead to piles.

“This prolonged sitting can increase pressure on the veins around the rectum and anus. The toilet seat position already places strain on this area, and when you delay finishing your bowel movement by being distracted by your phone, the pressure builds further. Over time, this repeated strain can lead to the development of haemorrhoids,” explains Dr Sukrit Singh Sethi, consultant, gastroenterology, hepatology and liver transplantation, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram.

Sitting on a chair is different from being on a toilet seat. While prolonged sitting isn’t ideal in any situation, those extra minutes on the toilet seat can put excessive pressure on the rectal area due to the lack of support beneath you.

“As a proctologist and anorectal surgeon, I've noticed a common habit among many of my patients suffering from haemorrhoids: spending 30 to 45 minutes in the toilet, often watching Reels, YouTube videos, or playing games on their phones,” shares Dr Vilas Kedar, a Mumbai-based proctologist and anorectal surgeon.

Haemorrhoids can cause discomfort, pain, itching, and bleeding. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or even surgery.

“Most people who receive treatment for haemorrhoids feel better and are able to resume their regular activities. There might be some long-term effects, though. Certain individuals may experience chronic symptoms, particularly if they fail to maintain a diet rich in fibre and healthy bowel habits,” says Dr Vishal Khurana, director, gastroenterology, Metro Hospital, Faridabad, tells India Today.

Health experts say one should not sit for more than 10 minutes on a toilet seat.

“To maintain healthy bowel habits, avoid distractions like mobile phones that encourage extended toilet time, and focus on responding promptly to natural urges rather than forcing bowel movements. Maintaining good toilet posture, such as sitting with knees slightly elevated, can also aid in efficient bowel movements,” suggests Dr Sethi.

Other risks

Apart from an increased risk of haemorrhoids, constipation, and pelvic floor dysfunction, taking your phone to the loo can also impact your back and neck.

“Neck and back soreness can also be caused by bad posture. You run the risk of overstretching if you are distracted by your phone and ignore your body's signals,” says Dr Geeta Shroff, director, NuBella Center for Women's Health, New Delhi.

One can also not ignore the psychological impact. A lot of times, it is the hesitance in confronting one’s own thoughts that a person then subconsciously prefers taking the phone to the washroom.

“This habit can also reinforce unhealthy mental patterns. The washroom should ideally be a brief, private, and mindful experience, but turning it into a time for digital distractions blurs the boundaries between personal care and screen time, leading to an overstimulated mind,” says Dr Mahesh Gupta.

Psychologists say that this habit reflects the struggle many people face today with managing boredom and the discomfort of keeping their hands or minds unoccupied, making it challenging to simply do nothing. Getting bored and doing nothing, by the way, is important for your well-being.

“The long-term consequences of consistent digital distraction can become problematic,” says Mumbai-based counselling psychologist Absy Sam.
“Using a phone as a distraction in the washroom can offer temporary relief, and short bursts of usage are generally not harmful. However, if this behaviour becomes excessive, it can lead to avoidance, which is often linked to anxiety or dissociation—especially among trauma survivors,” she explains.

So, your phone may love your bathroom breaks. Your body? It definitely doesn’t! FYI, taking a newspaper or book is no better! The idea is to not spend extra time on the toilet seat.