To be honest, we have now got into the habit of taking our mobile phones and gadgets to the toilet. Many people open their mobile phones or laptops and spend time on them. Many people have started doing this now. A new study, quoting doctors, says that when you go to the toilet, leave your gadgets outside.

Due to this habit, the time which usually goes from three to five minutes in the toilet increases to 15 minutes. Many people start scrolling on their smart phones and reading news and posts. They start checking social media.

According to a report published in CNN, experts warn that sitting on the toilet for a long time can harm health. Dr. Lai Zhu, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said it has also been linked to an increased risk of hemorrhoids and weak pelvic muscles.

Zhu said, “When patients come to me with complaints, when we think deeply about their problem, we realize that this is happening due to spending too much time in the toilet. A new study also says that if you are going to the toilet many times to defecate, then this is also harmful.

The open oval-shaped toilet seat presses on the hips. The lower half of the body is pulled down due to gravity, due to which the increased pressure affects your blood circulation. (image generated by Mata AI )

Only 5 to 10 minutes should be spent
According to Dr. Farah Monzur, assistant professor and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine, Long Island, New York, people should spend only 5 to 10 minutes on the toilet on average.

What will happen if you sit on the toilet seat for a long time?
If you sit for a long time, many types of problems will occur. There are scientific reasons for this. The open oval-shaped toilet seat presses the hips. Due to gravity, the lower half of the body is pulled downwards, due to which the increased pressure affects your blood circulation.

As a result, the veins and blood vessels around the anus and lower rectum become enlarged and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids.

Which parts of the body are at risk due to this?
Forced strain can also increase the pressure of growing hemorrhoids. People who scroll through their phones on the toilet are not able to keep track of time, and strain their muscles while sitting to defecate. The study says that people nowadays have started spending more time sitting on the toilet and this is very unhealthy for the anal-rectal organs and the pelvic area (the part below the waist)."

In addition to weak anal muscles and forced straining, sitting on the toilet bowl for too long can also increase the risk of rectal prolapse. (image generated by Mata AI)

In addition to weak anal muscles and forced straining, sitting on the toilet bowl for too long can also increase the risk of rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum, part of the large intestine, slips down and protrudes out of the anus.

The pelvic floor muscles are another type of muscle that can weaken when you sit on the toilet for long periods of time. The pelvic floor muscles adjust to the volume of bowel movements and work in conjunction with the rest of the body to ensure that stool passes out easily. Sitting for long periods of time increases the gravitational pressure on the pelvic floor muscles.

Do not read newspapers or magazines in the bathroom.
Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist in California, recommends keeping phones, magazines and books out of the bathroom. Many people have the habit of reading newspapers in the toilet, this is also harmful. Sit on the toilet bowl as little as possible.

Then take a short walk
According to the study, if you are having trouble defecating, stop defecating after 10 minutes. Instead, take a short walk. Because the movement caused by this can stimulate the intestinal muscles to have a bowel movement. A doctor involved in the study also advised staying hydrated and eating high-fiber foods like oats and beans to have regular bowel movements and avoid straining.

How much water to drink and fiber-rich foods
Want to know how much water to drink? The National Academy of Medicine recommends drinking 2.7 to 3.7 liters of water daily. In addition, the US Department of Agriculture recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories of food. Fiber and water soften stools, making them easier to pass.

So the symptom of these diseases
However, sometimes there are situations in which people have to spend more time in the toilet. Persistent difficulty or discomfort while defecating can be a symptom of gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.

Then there could be a cancer related to the digestive system.
Worsening constipation or the need to sit on the toilet for a long time can also be a sign of cancer. The study says, "If a growth inside the colon becomes large enough, it can block the flow of your stool, causing constipation and bleeding." The colon is a tube-shaped organ in the digestive system that absorbs water and nutrients from food and passes waste to the rectum. Colon cancer is being diagnosed in a greater number of young people these days.

The American Cancer Society recently reported that colorectal cancer rates have increased in people under age 55 since the mid-1990s. The organization estimated that 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed this year. Most of the young people who talk to them about hemorrhoids and constipation are later diagnosed with rectal cancer.

..then definitely visit a doctor
If you have these symptoms of constipation or sitting on the toilet for more than three weeks, then you must visit a doctor. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon for closer examination.