Summary
Experts warn that prolonged toilet sitting, often due to phone use, can harm health by increasing the risk of hemorrhoids, weakened pelvic muscles, and rectal prolapse.
Sitting too long compresses blood vessels and puts strain on the pelvic floor, leading to potential complications.
Doctors advise limiting bathroom time to 5-10 minutes, avoiding distractions like phones, and managing bowel health with hydration and fiber.
Persistent constipation or long toilet times may signal serious issues, including colorectal cancer, and should be discussed with a doctor if symptoms last over three weeks.
How is sitting on a toilet physiologically different than sitting on a chair?
As another person mentioned, the ring in the middle of a toilet lid strains the muscles differently. That said, prolonged sitting in chairs/etc as part of a sedentary lifestyle also carries an increased risk of hemorrhoids. Sitting down for too long is not great on the body.
Most chairs are not a hard ring with an open space in the middle that we associate with pooping and the physical movements out body makes to expel waste.
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