Your smartphone causes Hemorrhoids

For many, checking the news or scrolling through social media while on the toilet has become second nature.

But a recent study presented at the Digestive Diseases Week 2025 conference has raised a surprising red flag: this seemingly harmless habit could increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

The issue the researchers explored makes perfect sense.

Smartphones have completely changed how we spend our time, including in the bathroom.

Unlike the old days of flipping through a magazine or newspaper (which had end-of-page breaks to stop reading), our phones can keep us glued to the screen far longer.

The research team investigated this connection by studying people already scheduled for colonoscopies at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

This allowed doctors to directly examine and document whether hemorrhoids were present, rather than relying only on self-reports.

They surveyed 125 adults, asking detailed questions about their smartphone habits while using the toilet.

They wanted to know how often people used their phones, what they did on them, and how long they typically spent in the bathroom.

The researchers also gathered information on other factors that might affect hemorrhoid development, like age, weight, exercise, and fiber intake.

The results painted a clear picture of modern bathroom behavior:

1. 43% of participants had visible hemorrhoids during their colonoscopy.

2. 66% of people used smartphones while on the toilet.

3. Of those, 93% used their phones at least once or twice a week in the bathroom.

4. 55.4% used their phones most of the time while on the toilet.

5. Most importantly, phone users had a 46% higher risk of developing hemorrhoids compared to non-users.

6. 37% of phone users spent more than six minutes per toilet visit, compared to just 7% of non-users.

7. 35% of phone users admitted they believed they spent more time on the toilet because of their phone.

8. The most common bathroom phone activity was reading the news (54%), followed by social media (44%) and texting or emailing (30%).

Even after adjusting for other risk factors like age, sex, weight, diet, and physical activity, the link between smartphone use and hemorrhoids remained strong.

Why? Scientists believe prolonged sitting and straining during bowel movements puts pressure on the blood vessels in your rectum and anus.

Over time, this pressure can lead to swelling, pain, and bleeding.

But putting down your phone won’t cure your hemorrhoids.

For that, you need to take a few all-natural steps explained here. Thousands of readers have used these simple steps to get rid of their hemorrhoids for good without surgery…