Next time nature calls, some doctors suggest ditching the smartphone or tablet.

Dr. Alok Kanojia, known as Dr. K on social media, said on a September episode of the podcast “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” that smartphones are leading more people to develop hemorrhoids.

“Sitting on the toilet with your phone is giving people hemorrhoids,” he said.

Indeed, a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One found using a smartphone while on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased risk of developing hemorrhoids.

But some experts say it's not that simple. Either way, it's a good idea to be more aware of how hemorrhoids develop and how they're treated.

The claim that smartphones are leading to more hemorrhoids is a “huge stretch,” said Dr. Satish Rao, J. Harold Harrison distinguished university chair in gastroenterology and professor of medicine at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia.

“There’s no question that people are increasingly taking cell phones to the toilet,” he said. “But I’m not convinced that just because you’re sitting that you’re going to get more hemorrhoids.”

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, according to the Mayo Clinic. These veins fill up with blood when a person uses the bathroom and drain out after they’re finished. Hemorrhoids occur when the strings of muscle supporting these veins fracture and the veins are unable to empty the blood, Rao said.

However, this typically happens after prolonged periods of pushing or straining, he said. An extra five minutes of sitting on the toilet, which the study found was associated with cellphone use, won’t cut it.

“Pushing excessively over prolonged periods of time – that’s the critical underlying factor that leads to hemorrhoids,” he said. “Not just sitting.”

So, what could explain the link found in the study? Rao points to the methodology.

Researchers were more likely to find hemorrhoids because participants underwent a screening colonoscopy instead of going to the doctor’s after reporting pain or bleeding.

Additionally, this patient population is more likely to have hemorrhoids because they’re around 50 years old, Rao said. Screening colonoscopies are recommended for patients starting at 45 and the mean age of participants in the study was around 55. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hemorrhoids affect half of people over the age of 50.

Study authors acknowledge these limitations, as well as the potential bias in self-reported smartphone use, but still recommend limiting smartphone use to under 5 minutes while on the toilet.

Even if cellphone use isn’t causing hemorrhoids, Rao said the condition is still common and patients should take steps to prevent them. The Mayo Clinic said the best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to eat high-fiber foods or take fiber supplements to soften stool, drink plenty of fluids and avoid long periods of pushing or straining.

Most hemorrhoids can be treated with over-the-counter topical medications, such as hydrocortisone or witch hazel, but Rao recommends consulting a doctor if the hemorrhoids become recurrent, painful or bleed excessively.

Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does doomscrolling on the toilet cause hemorrhoids? Doctors weigh in.

Reporting by Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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