Do you often spend long minutes in the bathroom with your smartphone in your hand? This practice, increasingly common among young people, may seem harmless, but it presents serious health risks. The habit of sitting on the toilet for too long, combined with using your cell phone, can have negative consequences on your well-being.
Understand the main impacts of this behavior and discover tips for balancing cell phone use, taking care of your health in a conscious and responsible way. After all, small changes make a big difference in your daily routine!
The scene is super common: you go to the bathroom and pick up your cell phone to check the networks, respond to messages or watch short videos. But, according to presenter Angélica, this custom can be more dangerous than it seems – and experts confirm it: yes, Using your cell phone in the bathroom is bad!
During her new live, Angélica raised the subject and alerted the public to the risks of this habit. The speech went viral and many people were curious to understand why. And it’s not just superfluous things: coloproctologist Monica Vieira Pacheco, from Grupo Kora Saúde, explains why this behavior can be harmful.
Bathroom: one of the most contaminated places
Even though it looks clean, the bathroom is full of invisible microorganisms. When you bring your cell phone there, the device comes into contact with bacteria and viruses suspended in the air or on surfaces.
According to microbiological studies, smartphones can accumulate up to 10 times more germs than a toilet seat.
These bacteria can cause intestinal, urinary infections, skin irritations and even respiratory problems. And since the cell phone is an object that we carry everywhere – including at the table or near our face – it ends up spreading these impurities.
The risks of spending too much time in the toilet
Another problem is the amount of time we spend sitting on the toilet while using our cell phones. The doctor warns that when you get distracted while scrolling through your feed, you end up longer than necessaryand this can increase the pressure in the pelvic areapromoting the emergence of hemorrhoids and intestinal discomfort. “This prolonged posture causes the appearance of hemorrhoids, anal fissures, discomfort and a feeling of heaviness which can accompany the patient throughout the day,” he explains.
The time spent in the toilet during evacuation should be short, according to Monica. Indeed, healthy evacuation occurs in a spontaneous, fast and effortless. “On average, three to five minutes is enough. If the person has to stay longer than that, it indicates that there is a problem with hydration, consumption of fibers, intestinal motility or even posture”, underlines the professional.
The brain needs breaks too
Carrying your cell phone even when you’re taking a break means your brain never has time to relax.
Psychologists and digital behavior experts explain that this increases anxietymakes it difficult to concentrate and harms mental rest.
Using the bathroom can (and should) be a quick, relaxing time, without the pressure of notifications. The ideal is to take advantage of this time to take a deep breath and disconnect for a few minutes.
How to avoid this habit?
For those who are used to taking their cell phone to the toilet, it is recommended to leave the device outside and transform the act of evacuation into a functional process, not in a moment of entertainment.
If you find that you cannot put down your cell phone even for a few minutes, try small changes. What if we started now? a mini digital detox? Your body, mind and cell phone will thank you!
The coloproctologist gives some recommendations:
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Leave your cell phone in another room before going to the bathroom.
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Take the opportunity to listen to ambient music or practice conscious breathing.
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Clean your smartphone regularly with a microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol.
- Posture is also key: using a stool to elevate your feet puts your body in the ideal position, making evacuation effortless.
These simple actions help reduce the risk of contamination and create a more balanced relationship with your device.
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