Texas Doctor Warns About Scrolling on the Toilet

(KNUE-FM) We've heard that scrolling for hours on end is bad for our eyes and our anxiety levels, but did you know it's horrible for other parts of your body, too? Hey, lots of folks in East Texas are guilty of doing it. So, if you can't disconnect from your phone long enough to take a bathroom break, don't feel bad.

FOMO and doom-scrolling are incredibly addictive. We know that already. We've heard from various sources that it can wreak havoc on our mental health. During stressful times? Even worse.

Why Scrolling on the Toilet Feels So Addictive

Plus, staring at screens all day can harm our vision. After all, that's one of the reasons we see so many ads about those special blue-light glasses that allegedly offer some protection.

In addition to causing anxiety and eye strain, scrolling for a long time on the toilet is bad for your pelvic area, as well. Like, bad. Potentially. What would have been a three to five-minute bathroom break can easily turn into ten or fifteen minutes or more these days.

The Pelvic Health Problems Linked to Scrolling

CNN shared a report that said Lai Xue, a US colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas, said that 'prolonged sitting on the toilet can harm your health. It's even been connected to an increased risk of hemorrhoids and weakened pelvic muscles.'

What's the big deal? How could simply sitting on the toilet scrolling through your phone for a prolonged time hurt your body?

What Makes Toilet Sitting Worse Than Couch Sitting?

Experts say part of the problem is gravity. Gravity can be a good thing. At the same time. It means our bodies must push harder to pump blood back to our hearts, says Dr. Xue.

What makes sitting on a toilet more of a problem than sitting on a couch? Toilet seats are both oval and open, leaving the rectum lower than usual. So increased pressure makes it harder for our bodies to circulate blood.

The Risks: Hemorrhoids and Beyond

Dr. Xue goes on to explain that because of this, 'veins and blood vessels surrounding the anus and lower rectum become enlarged and engorged with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids.' Or worse.