Doctor gives harrowing warning to people who use phone while on the toilet

A doctor has given a pretty harrowing warning to those of us who like to go for a scroll on our phone when we’re on the loo.

Oh, come on, surely most of us are guilty of using sitting on the toilet as an opportunity for some undisturbed time on our phones.

But it turns out that tech time in the bathroom could have a pretty bad impact on our health, as we can risk experiencing a pretty painful, swollen consequence.

We’ve already been warned about sitting on there for too long in general or about the ‘very common’ mistake Brits are apparently making daily.

And Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, a former hospital doctor in Australia and science commentator, warned that scrolling endlessly on your phone on the loo can also lead to haemorrhoids.

Dr Karl gives some pretty great advice (Don Arnold/WireImage)

The doctor’s warning

Dr Karl explained to ABC Health how haemorrhoids are like ‘little cushions’ within the anal area that help ‘contribute to closure’.

“But sometimes if you're spending too long on the toilet, they can actually come out in the outside world and stay there,” he warned.

Also known as piles, they literally are lumps inside and around your anus, and typically, they can be treated and prevented at home.

Symptoms can include: bright red blood after pooing, an itchy bum, the feeling you still need to poo after going, mucus, lumps and pain around your anus.

“Sometimes you can push them back in easily, and sometimes you need surgery to get them back in,” Dr Karl added.

They're not exactly comfortable. (Getty Stock Image)

How to prevent haemorrhoids

The doc says a simple way to prevent them is to avoid using your phone.

“Just concentrate on having the bowel motion and not try to do two things at once like scrolling on a video,' he explained. “Videos are so addictive, and when you're in there, five minutes later, you watch, watch, watch, and you don't know what's happening down there.”

Dr Karl said we should just be going back to ‘nature’ and focusing on our bowel motion.

“Time to disconnect from our phones and reconnect with our bowels,” he added.

As well as having a ‘proper high fibre diet’, Dr Karl also recommends bringing your thighs upwards into more of a ‘squat’.

NHS’ dos and don’ts

If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve after treating them for seven days, then it’s worth seeing a GP. And the same goes for if you keep getting piles or notice a change that’s abnormal for you.

But generally, the service says you should:

· Drink plenty of fluid and take in fibre to keep poo soft

· Wipe your bottom with damp loo roll

· Take paracetamol if they hurt

· Ease itching and pain with a warm bath

· Ease discomfort with an ice pack wrapped in a towel

· Gently push a pile back inside

· Keep your bottom clean and dry

· Regularly exercise

· Cut down on alcohol and caffeine to avoid constipation

And for don’ts:

· Don’t wipe your bottom too hard after pooing

· Don’t ignore the urge to go

· Don’t push too hard when having a poo

· Avoid painkillers containing codeine as they can cause constipation

· If your piles are bleeding, don’t take ibuprofen

And as Dr Karl says, don’t spend more time than you need to on the loo. If you have concerns, always seek advice from a medical professional.