Here’s how using your phone in the bathroom actually impacts your health

The bathroom is far and wide one of the germiest spots in your house, and yet we are all guilty of taking our phones- something we commonly press against our faces and bring into our beds- into the bathroom with us.

A Verizon Wireless study revealed that 90% of people admit to using their phone in the bathroom.

We all know the obvious health issues with bringing your phone into the bathroom, but what about the effect that actually using your phone on the toilet has on your body?

Phone use doesn’t help you in the bathroom

Doctors in the study actually thought that using one’s phone on the toilet might have a positive impact on health, because it “provides a distraction and acts as an unconscious relaxation technique and allows an easier defecation process.”

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The practice does not make us more prone to go.

“although toilet readers spent significantly more time in the toilets, no differences were noted for the type or frequency of stools.”

The dangers of using your phone on the toilet

The actual act of using your phone is not the problem, but instead the amount of time it adds to sitting on the toilet can be a danger to us.

The study found that those who used their cell phone on the toilet had a higher rate of hemorrhoids.

Though the rate was not significant, medical professionals still warn that sitting on the toilet for a prolonged period of time can lead to hemorrhoid problems.

Bacteria risks of using your phone on the toilet

A 2017 study found that phones can carry around E.coli and other bacterium, and a British study found that the average smartphone screen is dirtier than a toilet seat.

The right bathroom habits for your health

Doctors recommend that you should not stay on the toilet longer than you need to- as tempting as it may be. A healthy amount of time on the toilet is from one to 15 minutes, whereas anything longer may point to an issue with constipation.