Many people who take their phones into the bathroom, often turn what should be a brief visit into a prolonged session of operating their phones and health professionals are now warning that spending excessive time on the toilet can have significant health consequences.

Dr Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, explained that long periods on the toilet can increase pressure on the veins and bl@od vessels around the an¥s, leading to hemorrhoids.

“When patients present to me with complaints, one of the main areas we have to delve deeply into is spending a lot of time on the toilet” Xue said.

Dr Farah Monzur, an assistant professor of medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine, said that people should spend no more than five to 10 minutes on the toilet.

Prolonged sitting can lead to increased pressure on the pelvic area, causing complications such as weakened an@l muscles and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Xue explained that the open, oval-shaped toilet seat compresses the buttocks, lowering the rect¥m’s position.

With gravity pulling downward, the body’s bl@od circulation is impeded, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids. “It becomes a one-way valve where blood enters, but bl@od really can’t go back,” Xue said.

Many people, distracted by their phones, may spend excessive time on the toilet, unintentionally straining their muscles and weakening the pelvic floor.

Monzur noted that this could increase the risk of r£ctal prolapse, where part of the large intestine slips down and bulges out of the an¥s.

The American Cancer Society recently reported an increase in colorectal cancer rates among people under 55.