01:00 PM
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Did you know that there is a dangerous habit that you may do while you are in the toilet that has serious health consequences, and threatens hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding.
British doctor Stephanie Taylor, a health and wellness expert, warned against sitting for a long time on the toilet seat, as the average person spends an average of three and a half hours on the toilet per week, and this may not be ideal for your health.
The British expert confirmed that you may enjoy sitting on the toilet to read the newspaper or browse social media, but this may harm your rectum.
The expert explained that spending a lot of time in the bathroom can cause hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding.
“When you sit there, and the anus is at a different level than the rest of the lower half, this puts extra pressure on the veins in the lower rectum, and this can eventually lead to hemorrhoids which can be uncomfortable and lead to rectal bleeding,” she said.
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?
“Hemorrhoids can be identified by signs such as bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping or on the toilet,” Taylor said. Perianal irritation is another symptom. Another sign, she noted, was “discomfort when passing stools or a mass of skin protruding through the anus (internal hemorrhoids).”
How to avoid hemorrhoids
The answer is simple, spend less time in the bathroom. Taylor advises avoiding sitting on the toilet for too long at a time. Instead, just sit for as long as you feel the urge to go, and if nothing happens, get up and do something else.
According to one study, it should only take five minutes to open your bowels, and if you’ve been sitting for more than 15 minutes without a bowel movement, that could indicate that you’re constipated.