It is known that many people have the habit of reading newspapers or carrying their phones in the toilet. That’s why a three-minute trip to the bathroom can easily turn into 15 minutes of reading, scrolling and posting. Doctors, however, warn that this prolonged sitting harms our health.
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It may seem like a completely harmless practice, but sitting on the toilet for too long is associated with an increased risk of developing hemorrhoids and weakening of the pelvic muscles, warns Dr. Lai Xue, a colorectal surgeon at the University Clinic in Dallas. “When patients come to me with problems, one of the main things we have to deal with is how much time they spend on the toilet.”
Here’s what happens when you exceed the optimal time sitting on the toilet.
It’s not the same to sit on a toilet bowl and an armchair
People should spend an average of five to 10 minutes on the toilet bowl, says Assoc. Dr. Farah Monzur, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center in New York.
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Why is it a problem if we stay longer? First, we need to recall a physics lesson. The force of gravity keeps us grounded on Earth, but that same gravity also makes the body work harder to pump blood back to the heart, explains Dr. Xue.
An open oval-shaped toilet seat compresses the buttocks, keeping the rectum in a lower position than sitting on the couch. With gravity pulling the lower half of the body down, the increased pressure affects blood circulation.
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“That’s why the blood flows like a one-way street, but it can’t go back,” adds the doctor.
Because of this, the veins and blood vessels surrounding the anus and lower rectum become enlarged and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids.
It’s not good to overexert yourself
Forceful straining can also increase the pressure and thus create conditions for the appearance of hemorrhoids. Many people lose track of time on the phone while sitting on the toilet, notes Dr. Monzur, sitting and straining their muscles to empty their bowels.
Sitting in the toilet should be boring for us, so that we get up as soon as possible.
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That’s why doctors point out that today an increasing number of people spend too much time in the toilet, which is very unhealthy for the anorectal organs and the pelvic floor.
In addition to the weakening of the anal muscles and forced strain, Dr. Monzur adds that sitting on a large cup for too long also increases the risk of rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse is when the rectum, part of the large intestine, slides down and protrudes from the anus.
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Pelvic floor muscles are another type of muscle weakened by prolonged sitting on the toilet. Dr. Xue explains that the pelvic floor muscles play an important role in bowel coordination and work with the rest of the body to ensure that the stool passes smoothly. Gravitational pressure on the pelvic floor strains the muscles when you consistently spend too much time sitting on the toilet.
Take into account how long you have been sitting
To avoid spending too much time on the porcelain throne, Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at the Orange Clinic in California, advised keeping phones, magazines and books out of the bathroom.
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“Don’t plan to stay long in the toilet. Because if you bring something to occupy your mind, you will definitely stay too long. Therefore, make sitting on a large cup as uninteresting as possible,” advises Dr. Monzur.
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If you have trouble with constipation, Dr. Xue advises to stop trying after 10 minutes. Instead of sitting on a cup, it is better to take a short walk – because movement can stimulate the muscles of the intestine to move. The doctor also recommends better hydration and a diet rich in fiber, in order to establish regular bowel movements and avoid straining.
Long sitting on the toilet and colorectal cancer
However, there are situations where people have to spend an unusually long time on the toilet. Constant difficulty or discomfort when urinating can be a symptom of gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.
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Worsening constipation or having to sit on the toilet for a long time can also be a sign of cancer. “If the growth inside the colon grows large enough, it can block the flow of stool, which can cause constipation and bleeding,” says Dr. Uradomo.
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The American Cancer Society recently reported an increase in colon cancer rates among people under the age of 55 since the mid-1990s.
Source: www.sitoireseto.com
