If you find yourself reading this in the bathroom, it might be time to wrap things up and get moving…
We all have to use the restroom, but how long is your typical visit?
While quick trips are common, particularly when you just need to urinate, what about those longer visits for a bowel movement?
A brief stop can easily turn into a 15-minute session, not due to any difficulty, but often because you’ve found ways to keep your mind occupied.
Many people bring their phones into the bathroom, browsing social media or watching YouTube, sitting there with underwear around their ankles.
However, doctors warn that there are significant health risks associated with prolonged toilet visits, beyond just experiencing numbness or tingling.
Dr. Farah Monzur, an assistant professor of medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine, advises against spending more than 10 minutes in the bathroom.
Long durations are linked to a higher risk of developing hemorrhoids and weakening pelvic muscles, experts suggest.
The problems stem from our posture on the toilet. The open, oval-shaped seat compresses the buttocks, causing the rectum to sit lower than in a regular seated position.
Gravity adds to this by pulling the body downward, which can disrupt normal blood circulation.
Dr. Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, explained: “It becomes a one-way valve where blood enters, but blood really can’t go back.”
He further mentioned: “When patients come to me with complaints, one major factor we discuss is the excessive time spent on the toilet.”
Monzur notes that using phones in the bathroom often leads to losing track of time, resulting in longer periods of sitting and straining during bowel movements.
This behavior can contribute to hemorrhoid development and cause additional health issues.
Xue also mentioned: “Recently, there’s a noticeable rise in people spending extended time on the toilet, which is detrimental to anorectal health and the pelvic floor.”
To maintain good health, it might be wise to leave reading materials and electronic devices outside the bathroom, ensuring your visits are brief and efficient.