BOSTON, Massachusetts — That casual scroll through social media while sitting on the toilet may carry unexpected consequences, according to research conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School .

The study found that smartphone use on the toilet is linked to a higher likelihood of developing hemorrhoids.

Doctors discovered that people who use smartphones while on the toilet have a 46% higher chance of developing hemorrhoids compared to those who don’t bring devices into the bathroom. The main driver appears to be prolonged sitting. More than one-third of smartphone users reported sitting longer than five minutes per visit, compared with just 7% of non-users.

Published in PLOS One , the study surveyed 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopy screenings

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