We all probably use the cell phone in the toilet every now and then. We tag along with our phones in order to make phone calls, send text messages, or even swipe through our timelines.
Sometimes, we just want to ogle through those images and videos that are for our eyes only!
According to Bank My Cell, about 90% of us visit the toilet room with our smartphones. For one reason or another, men are more of the offenders than women.
The toilet room is perhaps the perfect rendezvous because it is private and we find ourselves TRULY alone.
The need to abuse our cell phones in this manner is so powerful we are unwilling to imagine the unhealthy side effects.
The question then arises, is smartphone use in the toilet REALLY unhealthy? Come to think of it, we are not eating anything, (save for those who do), and certainly we wash our hands when done with poop!
Here is why phone use in the toilet is bad!
According to the experts, phone use in the toilet is a bad, bad idea, and here is why:
1. The bacteria
Toilet surfaces are covered in germs and bacteria, in particular. We contaminate our phones when we touch the surfaces and then the phones. The toilet surfaces in question include door handles, toilet seats, faucets, cistern levers, and everything else.
To make it worse, the heat from the phone battery makes the touchscreen a good environment for bacteria to thrive. The
Most of the germs are harmless, but some can lead to serious illnesses if not checked.
We are most likely to share the germ-infested phones with friends and kids after we are done doing poop!
This way, we expose them to the germs that linger in the toilet rooms we visit.
The next time you walk out of the toilet think twice before handing over your smartphone to someone else, especially kids. It is most probably contaminated with fecal matter! Consider disinfecting it first – better still, do not carry it to the toilet.
2. Your phone in the toilet can lead to hemorrhoids!
Chances of acquiring hemorrhoids increase every time we stay in the toilet for long periods. It is evident the design of the modern toilet is not suited for extended use.
Interestingly, the design of the modern-day toilet actually favors the extended use of the
When we overstay and use the phone in the toilet we exert unhealthy pressure on the rectum which can lead to, or exacerbate the case of hemorrhoids.
Traditionally, hemorrhoids are associated with chronic constipation, straining during bowel movements, and prolonged sitting on the toilet — all of which interfere with blood flow to and from the area, causing it to pool and enlarge the vessels.
Harvard Health Publishing
An extended stay in the toilet also exposes you to
- even more bacteria
- redundancy
- mischief
3. Pressure on the neck
Interestingly, the design of the modern-day toilet makes it easy and comfortable to sit on top of toilets for longer periods. Also true, slouching in the toilet seat actually favors our hunched habits when using cell phones.
The long time we spend in the toilet means we put consistent pressure on the back, the spine, and the neck, in what is known as tech-neck.
Tech neck can lead to headaches, poor blood circulation, indigestion, soreness, and of course hunched backs.
4. Toilet-time is meant to be time-off!
After a hectic hour or day doing THAT and THAT you probably need to take time out and relax. Apart from the night, the other opportunity we get is TOILET time. For many people out there, this is probably the only free moment of escapades during the day.
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