Shocking! Your mobile on the Toilet Seat can spell disaster. Here is how!
Although it may seem harmless to scroll on your phone while on the loo, you may be less inclined to do so when you find out what medical experts are saying about it.
A study conducted by YouGov revealed that a significant majority of Brits (57%) have admitted to using their phones while on the toilet. Interestingly, 8% of people confessed to doing so “always,” while 14% admitted to doing it “most times.”
This trend raises alarms among health experts due to the various risks associated with this seemingly harmless habit. Colorectal surgeon Dr. Karen Zaghiyan warns that spending excessive time scrolling through endless TikToks while using the toilet may exert extra pressure on your posterior, potentially leading to the development of hemorrhoids.
As explained by the expert to Healthline, hemorrhoids are essentially a collection of veins both inside and outside the anus. Importantly, it’s a natural occurrence, as everyone is born with them.
However, the expert warns that when you sit and strain while scrolling on your phone, the pressure exerted can lead to the engorgement of these hemorrhoidal veins with blood. This, in turn, may result in uncomfortable symptoms like pain, swelling, or bleeding.
However, the concerns don’t end with just hemorrhoids; there’s also the issue of bacteria.
Using your phone while on the toilet leads to bacterial contamination from the bathroom, which can then be easily transferred to other areas when you’re done.
A 2017 study revealed some alarming facts; high school students’ mobile phones were found to be covered in numerous germs, including E. coli and other microorganisms that can cause illness – a horrifying but not entirely surprising discovery.
Given this unsettling information, understanding the significance of handwashing becomes more critical than ever.
Dr. Marcos Del Rosario, a urologist at Clinic CERACOM in Campeche, Mexico, highlights a troubling observation: many grown adults still lack proper handwashing knowledge, a situation he commonly witnesses in public bathrooms.
Considering these health risks, Dr. Zaghiyan advises that while using the toilet, it’s best to only sit when the urge to go is present, avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and straining.
Numerous individuals on TikTok have openly confessed to using their phones while on the toilet, sharing their thoughts in the comment section.
One person unabashedly admits, “Sorry, but I’ll probably still use it.”
Another humorously sets the scene, “POV: You’re in the bathroom.”
A different commenter muses, “Sometimes not knowing is better than knowing, man.”
In a light-hearted manner, a fourth person jokes, “The network is pretty good in the toilet though.”
Someone else candidly confesses, “I even doze off sometimes.”
It seems like this trend has garnered quite a bit of attention and candid responses from users.
