Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has warned against using phones on the toilet as mindless scrolling can do harm than good.

The Australian scientist said the habit of scrolling endlessly on your phone while sitting on the toilet can lead to haemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are similar to blood vessels, but they appear inside and outside of the anus and lower rectum – and prolonged sitting with your phone on the toilet can increase your risk of them.

‘Haemorrhoids are like little cushions inside 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,’ Dr Karl told ABC Health.

‘Sometimes you can push them back in easily, and sometimes you need surgery to get them back in.’

To prevent haemorrhoids, Dr Karl advised changing your habits – including avoiding using your phone on the toilet and eating a high-fibre diet.

‘Just concentrate on having the bowel motion and not try to do two things at once like scrolling on a video,’ he said.

‘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.

‘Go back to nature, follow your body and just focus on your bowel motion… Time to disconnect from our phones and reconnect with our bowels.’

The video has been viewed than 80,000 times, with many admitting they watched Dr Karl’s advice while on the toilet.

‘But the toilet is where you go to hide from the children… And to hide behaviour you don’t want them to see,’ one mum pointed out.

In 2023, a young woman urged everyone to think twice before taking their phone to the bathroom after her mum needed surgery for haemorrhoids caused by mindlessly scrolling on the toilet.

‘If you go and take a number two and you bring your phone with you… you’re sitting there for so long, you need to stop doing that,’ she said.

‘My mum just had haemorrhoid surgery. She has been having trouble going. She’s always in the bathroom for like 30 minutes – and that’s because she’s been sitting on the toilet for so long trying to go.’

Dr Joseph Salhab, from the US, weighed in on the mum’s experience, saying: ‘This is absolutely true.’

‘Straining and prolonged sitting when you’re trying to use the restroom puts you at risk of developing haemorrhoids, which can be painful,’ Dr Salhab said.

‘Definitely try to limit your phone use when you’re using the bathroom to avoid prolonged sitting.’

However, there are things you can do to prevent the risk of haemorrhoids.

‘First, increase your fibre with fruits that can help stimulate bowel movements. This includes things like kiwi fruit, dragon fruit, apples, pears, prunes and vitamin C helps as well,’ Dr Salhab said.

‘You can always supplement fibre with psyllium husk and add it to your favourite drink.’

Dr Salhab said it’s best to drink plenty of water throughout the day and magnesium can also help stimulate bowel movements.

He also suggested adding a stepping stool in the bathroom.

‘You can use a stepping stool because when you raise your feet, it allows easier passage of stool, which is really beneficial,’ Dr Salhab said.

He added: ‘And when you have to use the restroom, try to find a way to go, don’t avoid it.’

According to Healthline, prolonged sitting can happen if you get very absorbed in your smartphone.

‘It’s not the actual act of using a smartphone that is the problem,’ colorectal surgeon Dr Karen Zaghiyan explained.

‘Rather, sitting on the toilet (whether you are reading or just sitting there) for a prolonged period of time can definitely lead to haemorrhoid problems.’

Dr Zaghiyan explained that if you sit and strain on the toilet for too long, haemorrhoids can become engorged with blood, causing symptoms such as pain, swelling or bleeding.