Your Cellphone Habit Is Increasing Your Risk of Hemorrhoids

Summary:  In an article by Jacqueline Mitchell of the Harvard Gazette, a study by gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha links smartphone use on the toilet to a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids. Phone users are five times more likely to sit for over five minutes, a habit driven by the phone's distraction rather than constipation or straining. This prolonged sitting is thought to cause vascular cushions to become engorged, leading to symptomatic hemorrhoids. The research updates older findings for the modern era. Article Citation:  :Mitchell, J. (2025, September 4). Does this cellphone habit raise risk of hemorrhoids?. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/09/does-this-cellphone-habit-raise-risk-of-hemorrhoids/