News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Scrolling Too Long While On The Toilet? You Could Be Risking Hemorrhoids P rolonged smartphone use on the toilet could be linked to a higher risk of hemorrhoids, not because of increased straining, but because of how much longer people sit, according to research published Wednesday. A cross-sectional analysis of 125 patients undergoing screening colonoscopies found that smartphone users in the group spent significantly more time on the toilet, according to the study published in PLOS One from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. About 37 per- cent of people who were part of the study and reported using smartphones on the toilet spent more than five minutes per bathroom visit compared with 7 percent of nonusers. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), fiber intake, physical activity and straining, smartphone use was associated with a 46 percent increased risk of hemorrhoids. Chethan Ramprasad, one of the study authors who specializes in gastrointestinal motility, said hemorrhoids are often overlooked because they are “not taken as seriously,” even though millions of dollars of health care expenditure go to treating hemorrhoids. “No one really wants to talk about something that’s in their anus rectum, but this is incredibly human,” Ram- prasad said. Trisha Pasricha, the senior author of the study, is the Ask a Doctor columnist for TheWashington Post. She was not involved in the reporting of this article. WHY IS SITTING ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR TOILET A PROBLEM? Phones are now a bathroom companion for most people. A 2022 study found that 65 percent of Americans said they use their phones on the toilet. Researchers said the distraction leads to longer toilet sessions, which leads to the increased risk of hemorrhoids. Straining, which has been historically considered a major factor, was not significantly associated with hem- orrhoids in the study group, which researchers say sug- gests that time spent sitting on the toilet may be a more important risk factor. Many gastroenterologists have long warned against sit- ting on the toilet for prolonged periods of time. The study authors say “sitting on a standard toilet seat, without any support to the pelvic floor, disproportionately increases pressure in the hemorrhoidal cushions. As this pressure persists over time, these cushions may become engorged and thereby develop into appreciable hemorrhoids.” Most people surveyed as part of the study did not real- ize their phones were prolonging their toilet visits, under- scoring a gap between perception and actual behavior. Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins located in the anus and lower rectum and can be caused by several factors including pregnancy, low fiber intake, chronic constipation or diarrhea and being overweight. While not cancerous, hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable, painful and are sometimes accompanied with bleeding. And nonsurgical treatment of the ailment is costly. Research from 2014 found that about 1.4 million people insured by their employers sought hemorrhoid care that year costing $770 million. And nearly half of people older than 50 will have hemorrhoids at some point in their life, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends maintaining a fiber-rich diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly and avoiding long periods of sitting on the toilet to help reduce the risk. WHAT MEASURES CAN YOU TAKE TO PREVENT HEMORRHOIDS? Jessica D. Dahmus, assistant professor of medicine at the Penn State College of Medicine and a gastroenterolo- gist with Penn State Health who was not involved in the survey, said she recommends her patients spend only five to 10 minutes on the toilet and avoid bringing their cellphones into the bathroom. She also said increasing a person’s fiber can help mini- mize constipation which can prevent the straining that can lead to hemorrhoids. The recommended daily intake is 25 grams for women and 30 grams for men, but most Americans fall short, Dahmus said. Research published in 2017 from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that only about 5 percent of the population meets the daily recommendation for fiber intake. Experts say fiber-rich foods include beans, lentils, whole grains, berries and leafy greens, which can help soften stool and bowel movement, reducing pressure on rectal veins. Sabrina Malhi is a national health-care reporter covering in- fant, maternal and public health. She was the author of the Coro- navirus Updates newsletter and previously served as president of the South Asian Journalists Association. -TheWashington Post Sabrina Malhi My Partner Ignored A Friend’s Racist Joke. Is Our Relationship Toast? enough to bring up a larger, more serious conversation. One around his own willing- ness to put in the work to understand and educate himself on these dynamics, as well as his role within them. Simply put: Your partner has privilege – and therefore, influence and power – in ways you don’t. If he’s not willing to confront that, and use it, then how can you confidently feel safe in the relationship? Even more, the way I see it, also as a South Asian partnered to aWhite man, your future kids are going to be raised in a society that reflects your partner’s cultural values and norms – by default. So being intentional about how and where your kids get to see and engage in our cultural values and norms is not just a “nice to have” … it’s necessary and important. Be very direct with your partner about this: “For me, it’s nonnego- tiable that our kids are raised in a diverse community and exposed to my culture through (name specific traditions or fac- tors). Can you see yourself fully on board with that?” Your relationship is probably “toast” if he continues to dismiss racism, if he refuses to engage when you’re hurt or if he’s unwilling to raise kids in a way that honors both your cultures. It makes sense that giving your children a name that hon- ors your history and cultural background is important to you. I’m curious to whom these names are considered “ethnic.” This might seem innocuous, but that word choice alone centersWhiteness and is a part of the problem. Partnership requires both people to sometimes go beyond their comfort zones. If you feel like you’re constantly compromising on core values while he interprets your needs as rejection or unimportant, can that be a fulfilling relationship for you long-term? Being with someone of another culture or background should be an expansive experience, not a restrictive one. If you are the only person stretching, your resent- ment will only continue to grow… and that is not sustainable. One activity you can do together is take some time to each write out what’s nonnegotiable about family, culture and raising children. Then come together and compare the list. Is there overlap? Is there enough room to build a life together? Of course intertwining your lives will require compromise, but please don’t mistake compromise for sacrifice. It’s only a compromise if both of you are willing to meet in the middle somewhere. Giving something up while your boundaries are being dismissed is a sacrifice. There are some things – such as safety and belong- ing – that cannot and should not be up for negotiation in a relationship. In a world that is already unkind, other- ing and discriminatory to people with marginalized identities like you, you truly deserve intimate relationships that are soft, safe, affirming and inclusive. Sahaj Kaur Kohli is a therapist and the cre- ator of Brown Girl Therapy. -TheWashington Post - Continued From Page 18 Photo:TheWashington Post Advice Column News India Times (September 6, 2025 - September 12, 2025) September 12, 2025 26 Health