Hold the phone — or don’t, actually.
Taking your cell phone into the bathroom to entertain yourself on the toilet may not be such a good idea, according to a Stanford- and Harvard-trained gastroenterologist.
In a video posted to TikTok over the summer, Dr. Saurabh Sethi revealed the potential health consequences of scrolling on social media while relieving oneself.
“First, using your phone while doing number two can lead to prolonged sitting on the toilet, which can cause strain and pressure on your rectum and anus,” Sethi explained.
“This can lead to issues such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and rectal prolapse,” he continued.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins or blood vessels around the anus, causing pain, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Anal fissures are cracks or tears in the lining of the anal canal, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
However, more serious is a rectal prolapse, which occurs when the rectum sags and comes through the anal opening, according to Penn Medicine, and sometimes requires a procedure in adults.
But these aren’t the only reasons not to bring your phone to the bathroom with you.
“Another issue is that it can be a breeding ground for bacteria,” he said. “Studies have found that an average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, so try avoiding scrolling while on the toilet.”
For those who can’t part with their phone, Sethi had one more tip.
“But if you can’t help it, at least have a disinfectant wipe around to clean the phone after you’re done with your business,” he concluded.
The Post reached out to Sethi for comment.
In the comments section of the TikTok clip, some admitted that they were watching the video clip while they were on the toilet.
“I am watching this video sitting in toilet🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️,” one user wrote.
Another typed, “I’ve been caught.”
“Lemmi forward this to my hubby,” someone else joked.
However, Sethi isn’t the only doctor who has recently taken to TikTok to share some bathroom warnings.
Last month, Dr. Janine Bowring, a naturopathic doctor based in Canada, offered her top three tips to help with bowel movements.
One of her suggestions included eating figs and coffee with olive oil.
“Figs are loaded with fiber and help with constipation,” she said in the video.
And, in June, Dr. Karan Rajan posted a video on TikTok revealing that some people have been pooping wrong their whole life.
The doctor explained how to have a “truly wonderful dump” without a “squatty potty” — the floor-level toilet that’s standard in Asian countries from China to Pakistan.
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