Sitting on the toilet for a long time is linked to piles, and phones make it easy to sit too long. Here is why, and what to do instead.
What the research shows
A 2025 study of adults having a colonoscopy found that people who used their phones on the toilet were more likely to have haemorrhoids (piles). Phone users also spent much longer on the toilet. The study shows a link rather than proof, but it fits with what doctors have long advised.
Why sitting too long matters
Piles are swollen cushions of blood vessels inside the back passage. On an open toilet seat, the anus sits lower than the rest of the body with no support, so blood pools in these cushions. The longer you sit, and the more you strain, the more they swell, bleed or slip down.
Better toilet habits
- Leave your phone outside the toilet
- Aim to be done within about five minutes. If nothing happens, get up and try later.
- Do not strain or hold your breath; abdominal breathing helps
- Rest your feet on a small stool so your knees are above your hips
- Keep stools soft with fibre and water
If you already have piles
Better habits help piles settle and reduce flare-ups. Internal piles that keep bleeding or slipping out can be treated in clinic, for example with rubber band ligation or HET, which Dr Chia performs. Bleeding should not be assumed to be piles, though: see blood in the stool.
General information only. Reviewed by Dr Chia Chung King, 2026-11-13. Book a consultation.