Quick answer: Yes. A 2025 study published in the journal PLOS One found that people who use their phone on the toilet have a 46% higher risk of piles [1]. The problem is not the phone itself — it is the extra time spent sitting and straining while you scroll.
If you carry your phone to the toilet every morning, this article explains what the research found, why the habit harms you, and simple ways to protect yourself.
What Did the New Study Find?
Researchers in the USA examined 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopy and asked about their toilet habits [1]. The findings were clear:
- About two-thirds of participants admitted to using their smartphone on the toilet.
- Smartphone users were far more likely to sit for over five minutes per visit — 37% of phone users did, compared to just 7% of non-users [1].
- After adjusting for age, diet, and exercise, phone users had a 46% increased risk of piles [1].
Interestingly, straining alone did not explain the difference. The extra sitting time — reading news, scrolling reels, replying to messages — was the key factor [1]. Doctors say the toilet has quietly become a reading room, and our bodies are paying the price.
Why Does Sitting Long on the Toilet Cause Piles?
Piles are swollen blood vessels in and around the anal region. When you sit on a toilet seat, there is no support under the anal area — unlike a chair. Gravity pulls blood downward, pressure builds in the veins, and the cushioning tissues slowly swell and weaken [2].
Add a phone, and a two-minute task becomes a fifteen-minute sitting session. Do this daily for months, and you create the perfect conditions for piles — even if your diet and fibre intake are healthy. This is one reason doctors across India are now seeing piles in young adults in their 20s and 30s, not just in older patients.
How Long Should You Sit on the Toilet?
Ideally, no more than 5 minutes. Doctors recommend finishing your bowel movement within five minutes and leaving, rather than waiting or scrolling [3]. If nothing happens in that time, get up, walk around, and return when you feel the urge again. Forcing or waiting on the seat only increases pressure on the anal veins.
Early Signs of Piles You Should Not Ignore
Watch for these common symptoms:
- Bright red blood during or after passing stools
- Itching or irritation around the anal area
- A soft lump near the anus
- Pain or discomfort while sitting or passing stools
- A feeling of incomplete emptying
Mild piles often settle with fibre, fluids, and better toilet habits. However, any bleeding should always be checked by a doctor to rule out other serious causes [4].
When Should You See a Piles Doctor in Kukatpally?
If you have bleeding, a lump that will not go away, or discomfort lasting more than a week, do not wait — piles are graded from 1 to 4, and early grades are far simpler and cheaper to treat [2].
For residents of Kukatpally, KPHB, Nizampet, Miyapur, Bachupally, and the Hitech City corridor, expert care is available close to home. Laserqure, widely regarded as the best piles clinic in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, is located at Anupama Hospitals, JNTU Road, Near Nexus Mall. The clinic is led by Dr. Rambhupal Rao, an experienced plastic and laser surgeon, and offers:
- Advanced laser piles treatment in Hyderabad — minimally invasive, day-care procedures with faster recovery [5]
- Honest, grade-based diagnosis — a procedure is advised only when genuinely needed
- Cashless insurance support and 0% EMI options
- Private, comfortable consultations for both men and women
- A free 15-minute telephone consultation for anyone searching for a trusted piles doctor near me
Changing your toilet habit protects your future. If symptoms have already started, early consultation is the smartest next step.
Book your consultation today — call or WhatsApp 88862 41919.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does using a phone in the toilet really cause piles?
Yes. A 2025 PLOS One study found phone users on the toilet had a 46% higher risk of piles, mainly because they sit much longer than non-users [1].
2. How many minutes should I sit on the toilet?
No more than 5 minutes per visit. If nothing happens, get up and return later when you feel the urge, instead of waiting on the seat [3].
3. Can piles caused by long sitting go away on their own? Early-grade piles often improve with a high-fibre diet, more fluids, and shorter toilet time. If symptoms persist beyond a week or bleeding occurs, consult a specialist [4].
4. Which doctor should I consult for piles?
A proctologist or a laser surgeon who treats piles, fissures, and fistulas regularly. At Laserqure, Kukatpally, care is led by Dr. Rambhupal Rao.
5. Which is the best piles clinic in Kukatpally, Hyderabad? Laserqure at Anupama Hospitals, JNTU Road, Near Nexus Mall, Kukatpally is a specialised laser proctology clinic offering advanced piles treatment, cashless insurance, 0% EMI, and a free 15-minute telephone consultation.
References
- PLOS One (2025) — Study on smartphone use on the toilet and risk of piles (46% increased risk). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
- NCBI StatPearls — Hemorrhoids: Grading and Management. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537182/
- Cleveland Clinic — How Long Should You Sit on the Toilet? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/
- NHS — Piles (haemorrhoids): Symptoms and when to see a GP. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/piles-haemorrhoids/
- NCBI PMC — Laser hemorrhoidoplasty versus conventional surgery: post-operative pain and recovery outcomes. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Talk to the team at Laserqure — Laser Piles Clinic, Kukatpally, Hyderabad (Anupama Hospitals, JNTU Road, near Nexus Mall)
Call 88862 41919 or message us on WhatsApp to book a consultation.
