Using mobile devices near water sources can potentially damage them. Be wary of taking your smartphone into the bathroom.

In a groundbreaking study published in the journal "PLOS One", researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston, led by Trisha Pasricha, have suggested a connection between using a smartphone on the toilet and the risk of developing enlarged hemorrhoids.

The study, which surveyed participants in the US, found that 66% of the respondents used their smartphones on the toilet. Among these users, 43% were found to have enlarged hemorrhoids, as detected by a colonoscopy. This finding has raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with this common habit.

However, the study has been met with some criticism from gastroenterologist Ulrich Tappe, who considers it methodologically weak.

In the study, it was also observed that prolonged sitting on the toilet can promote the development of enlarged hemorrhoids due to sustained increased pressure on blood vessels in the anal area. This pressure, combined with the potential transfer of bacteria from the phone to the anal area, could exacerbate the problem.

Markus Egert of Furtwangen University emphasises the importance of cleaning phones after toilet use with an alcohol-based lens cleaning cloth to avoid multiplying fecal bacteria.

The study's findings are supported by statistics from a YouGov survey, which showed that only about two in five respondents (39 percent) say they clean their phone after using the toilet. Women were found to be more diligent in this regard, with 44 percent cleaning their phones compared to 33 percent of men.

The survey also revealed some interesting habits. On average, 54% of adults in Germany use their smartphones while on the toilet, with men at 58% and women at 49%. Social networks, weather, games, and dating apps are among the activities people engage in on their phones while on the toilet.

Interestingly, the survey found that almost half of users (48%) are surprised by how quickly time passes when they are on the toilet with their phone.

In an effort to strike a balance, experts suggest sitting on the closed toilet seat as a compromise for those who find it hard to give up using the toilet as a brief retreat.

Despite the potential health risks, it appears that this habit is widespread. In Germany, 80% of people aged 25 to 34 use their smartphones while on the toilet, according to a recent YouGov survey. Among this age group, about 75% of 25- to 34-year-olds in Germany use their smartphones while on the toilet.

Hemorrhoids are blood cushions sitting just in front of the anus that can cause pain, itching, and bleeding when they become permanently enlarged. The cause is often constipation that leads to excessive straining, which can be due to a variety of factors such as lack of exercise, low-fiber diet, and overweight.

Using mobile devices near water sources can potentially damage them. Be wary of taking your smartphone into the bathroom.