Do not sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, doctors warn

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Let’s face it: people have a habit of taking their phones into the bathroom. I’ve been guilty of it myself, and chances are there’s someone on the toilet reading this article right now. A three-minute trip to the bathroom can easily turn into 15 minutes of reading, scrolling, and posting.

It may seem like an innocent way to pass the time if that’s you go number two. However, experts warn that what they call sitting on the toilet for long periods of time can harm your health. It has even been linked to an increased risk of hemorrhoids and weakened pelvic muscles, said Dr. Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

“When patients come to me with complaints, one of the most important areas we need to look deeply into is spending a lot of time on the toilet,” said Xue.

This is what’s going on when you exceed your bathroom time.

Toilet training problems due to sitting for too long

According to Dr. Farah Monzur, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Stony Brook Medicine on Long Island, New York, people should spend an average of five to 10 minutes at the drain.

Why is it a problem if you stay longer? First, here’s a quick physics lesson. Gravity keeps us grounded on Earth, but that same gravity also forces the body to work harder to pump blood back to the heart, Xue said.

The open oval toilet seat compresses the buttocks, leaving the rectum in a lower position than if you were sitting on the couch. As gravity pulls the lower half of the body down, the increased pressure affects your blood circulation.

“It becomes a one-way value where blood comes in, but blood really can’t go back,” said Xue.

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

Don’t force it either

Forced straining can also increase pressure, which can cause hemorrhoids. People who scroll on their phones in the toilet tend to lose track of time, Monzur said, as he sat and strained his muscles to get the stool out.

And guess what? Your doctors can tell. “Nowadays we see an increase in the number of people spending more time on the toilet, and that is very unhealthy for the anorectal organs and pelvic floor,” Xue added.

In addition to weakened anal muscles and forced straining, Monzur said sitting on the toilet bowl for too long can also increase the risk of rectal prolapse. A rectal prolapse is when the rectum, part of the colon, slips down and bulges out of the anus.

The pelvic floor muscles are another type of muscle that is weakened by prolonged toilet visits. Xue explained that the pelvic floor muscles coordinate a significant amount of bowel movement and work with the rest of the body to ensure that stool comes out smoothly. The gravitational pressure on the pelvic floor strains the muscles when sitting for long periods of time.

Be more mindful of bathroom time

To avoid spending too much time on the porcelain throne, Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California, to keep phones, magazines and books out of the bathroom.

“You don’t want to go in thinking you’re going to be there for a long time. Because then you want to bring something to keep the mind occupied,” Monzur said. “Make sitting on the toilet bowl as uninteresting as possible.”

If you have trouble relieving yourself, Xue recommended stopping after 10 minutes. Instead, walk around a bit, as the movement can stimulate the intestinal muscles to produce bowel movements. Xue also recommended getting hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods, such as oats and beans, to induce regular bowel movements and avoid straining.

Do you want to know how much? The National Academy of Medicine recommends 2.7 to 3.7 liters of water daily. Moreover, the US Department of Agriculture recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories of food. Xue said fiber and water soften stool, making it easier to pass.

Long bathroom times and colon cancer

However, there are situations when people need to spend an unusual amount of time on the toilet. Constant difficulty or discomfort passing stools can be a symptom of gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome And Crohn’s disease.

Worsening constipation or the need to sit on the toilet for a long time can also be a sign of cancer. “If a growth in the colon becomes large enough, it can block the flow of your stool, which can cause constipation and bleeding,” Uradomo said.

The American Cancer Society recently reported an increase in colorectal cancers among people under 55 since the mid-1990s, and the nonprofit estimated that there would be 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer this year.

In Uradomo’s career, he remembers more and more young people talking to him about hemorrhoids and constipation and later being diagnosed with rectal cancer.

If you have these symptoms of constipation or have been using the toilet for more than three weeks, Monzur said it may be time to bring your concerns to your doctor. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your GP may refer you to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon for further examination.

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is a New York-based freelance health and science journalist.

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