At 22, Franklin Fernandes found himself being wheeled in for surgery to treat swollen haemorrhoids. “It’s uncomfortable even to talk about,” he admitted. “The hemorrhoids would protrude, and I often had to push the lumps back,” said Fernandes, who works in a digital marketing firm. He was unaware that his poor eating habits, irregular sleep schedule, and spending over an hour on his phone while on the toilet were putting excessive pressure on his rectum. Initially, the bleeding episodes did not concern him, but when the pain became unbearable, he confided in his parents. “I’m usually a cheerful person, but thinking back on how I was during that time is unsettling. After the surgery, there were a few days of discomfort, but I’m much better now. I drink three to four liters of water a day and limit my phone use in the bathroom,” said Fernandes, now 28.
Prolonged use of mobile phones while sitting on the Toilet can increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids and a Pune study has flagged concerns over the rising cases of piles and prolapse that are linked to toilet habits. “As part of our study spanning 10 years (2013-2023) at a proctology center in Pune, we have analyzed the health data of 14,500 patients, all between the ages of 18 and 45. We found that more than 90 percent of the patients admitted to using mobile phones while on the toilet, a habit that significantly extended their time on the commode, often without them realizing the risks involved,” Dr Ashwin Porwal, Pune-based proctologist and anorectal surgeon who led the study, told The Indian Express.
As per the study, 27 percent of patients (4,292) admitted that they were actually spending more than 15 minutes on the commode regularly. Of these 4,292 patients, a total of 1,535 patients with piles and internal prolapse also had history of straining and chronic constipation. A total of 1,250 patients required surgery and the remaining 285 patients were successfully treated with medication and lifestyle changes.
“At a time when unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles are blamed for a host of health problems, this risk factor is emerging: prolonged sitting on Western-style commodes, compounded by the use of mobile devices, is leading to an alarming rise in anorectal conditions. such as piles (haemorrhoids) and internal mucosal prolapse especially among young working professionals.,” he pointed out.
The expert noted that for many young professionals, the bathroom has become a sanctuary, a place where they can escape the pressures of daily life and relax with their mobile devices. “However, this ‘me-time’ is exacting a heavy toll on their health. The bathroom is for relieving yourself, not catching up on emails or scrolling through social media. It’s time we rethink our toilet habits,” Dr Porwal said.
“Prolonged sitting, particularly in a posture that delays bowel movements, contributes to venous pooling in the rectal veins, which weakens the pelvic floor muscles and the rectal support tissues over time. The end result is often internal mucosal prolapse, where the inner lining of the rectum slips down into the anal canal, and piles, a condition marked by painful swollen veins in the lower rectum,” Dr Porwal explained.
Elaborating on the causative mechanism, Dr Porwal said, “Unlike squatting, which facilitates easier bowel movements, sitting on a western-style commode for extended periods causes unnecessary straining and delays defecation. People don’t realize that prolonged time in this position contributes to blood pooling in the rectal veins. Over time, this weakens the rectal support structures, increasing the risk of piles and prolapse.”
Dr Porwal’s data, gathered over a decade of treating patients, also highlight a trend: the average age of patients seeking treatment for piles and prolapse has shifted dramatically in recent years. “In the past, most of my patients with these conditions were above the age of 40. But now, I have been seeing more and more young professionals, especially those in the 18 to 45 age group. This is a demographic shift that reflects lifestyle changes fueled by mobile usages,” he said.
The expert referred to a particularly striking case that involved an 18-year-old student who developed internal prolapse after routinely spending over 45 minutes on the commode. “The patient admitted to taking his laptop into the bathroom to work, completely unaware of the strain this was putting on his rectal muscles. The combination of prolonged sitting and straining led to a prolapse that eventually required surgery,” Dr Porwal said.
“What’s worrying is that many patients don’t see this as a serious issue until it’s too late. Prolapse can start as a minor problem, but if left untreated, it can cause complications like bowel obstruction, which might require complex surgery,” he said. Dr Porwal also advocated simple changes, such as limiting toilet time to under 10 minutes, avoiding mobile phones during bathroom breaks, and adopting a high-fibre diet to ease bowel movements and reduce the need for straining.
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