People love to joke about not even being able to go to the toilet without bringing a phone with you these days, but it turns out your bathroom scrolling habit may be doing more harm than you think.
A new study in PLOS One suggests that spending bathroom breaks on your phone might increase the risk of hemorrhoids. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston surveyed 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopies to learn more about their bathroom habits.
Two-thirds of participants admitted they regularly used their phones while on the toilet. And those who scrolled stayed put longer—37.3% spent more than five minutes on the toilet per bathroom visit, compared to just 7.1% of non-phone users. Roughly 35% of bathroom smart phone users acknowledged that using their phone contributed to that increased time.
When doctors looked at the colonoscopy results, they found that 43% of all participants had hemorrhoids. After adjusting for other known risk factors such as age, sex, BMI, exercise levels, fiber intake, and straining, they determined that phone use on the toilet was associated with a 46% greater risk of hemorrhoids.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or around the anus. They can cause itching, pain or discomfort, swelling, and sometimes bleeding, but they aren’t usually dangerous. They tend to show up when there’s extra pressure in the area, meaning they might make an appearance during pregnancy, after bouts of constipation, after regular lifting of heavy objects, or, as demonstrated by this study, from sitting too long.
Why phones make things worse
Experts have long warned that sitting too long on the toilet can strain rectal veins. Unlike sitting in a chair, where the pelvic floor has support, perching on an open toilet seat leaves that area under more pressure.
“It is possible that time spent on the toilet is a more accurate predictor of hemorrhoids than straining,” the study concluded. “Furthermore, we found that smartphone users on the toilet engaged in less exercise per week than non-smart phone users, which could signify a higher level of engagement with technology and a more sedentary lifestyle outside of the toileting environment.”
However, the study does have its limits. Researchers noted that participants were all adults aged 45 and older who were already undergoing a screening colonoscopy. They also pointed out that it didn’t take into account phone usage on toilets over a longer period of time, which could create bad habits and contribute to the increased risk of hemorrhoids beyond the scope of this particular study.
How to lower your risk
Still, the team behind the study hopes that this will pave the way for more research to be done into the possible connection between phone usage on the toilet and those pesky hemorrhoids. But there are plenty of things you can do now to decrease your personal risk.
Some of the advice here is familiar, as it already pertains to overall health—stay active, eat enough fiber, and avoid prolonged sitting in general. When you’re on the toilet, try to avoid straining and keep bathroom breaks short.
One way to accomplish that? You guessed it; pry yourself away from your phone for just a few short minutes when you’re headed for toilet time. You can go right back to doomscrolling as soon as you’re done.
Fast food has long been a guilty pleasure – quick, satisfying and widely loved. But behind the convenience and comfort lies a hidden cost: starchy burgers, fries and sugary add-ons can send blood sugar soaring, creating sharp glucose spikes that strain the body over time. The question many wonder is – can there be a healthier way to enjoy fast food without wreaking havoc on your system?
Jessie Inchauspé has revealed a simple hack to lessen the impact of blood sugar spikes after consuming fast foods.(Unsplash)
Also Read | French biochemist reveals the best type of exercise for fat burning: ‘If your goal is fat loss, you should…’
Jessie Inchauspé, a French biochemist, NYT bestselling author, and health activist popularly known as the Glucose Goddess on social media, recently shared a personal experiment highlighting how small dietary tweaks can alter the body’s response to fast food.
In an Instagram video posted on August 6, she compared two identical meals, differing only in one small addition, to map the impact of fast food on glucose levels. Her findings point to a simple adjustment that can significantly blunt the physiological effects of a high-starch meal.
The experiment
In the video, Jessie shows a ‘fun and controversial’ graph which maps out glucose levels spiked after consuming a fast food meal. Jesse conducted the test with two identical fast-food meals – a cheeseburger and large fries – eaten on separate days.
“So, this is a big fast food meal with a cheeseburger, large fries, and on its own, of course, it creates a big glucose spike because it contains a lot of starches,” she said. The only difference: on one occasion, she “just added at the beginning of this fast food meal a green salad that I got at the same fast food chain, and I asked for some vinegar that they had in a little packet.” She ate the green salad topped with vinegar dressing before consuming her big fast food meal.
Adding the green vegetables before the starchy meal significantly decreased the spike in her glucose levels, producing a gentler, more controlled curve on the graph.
Also Read | French biochemist shares the ‘easiest way to reduce blood sugar spikes’: Do this simple 5–10 minute exercise after meals
Why is it controversial?
Jessie’s experiment could draw criticism from skeptics who may see it as offering a free pass to indulge in unlimited fast food, so long as it’s preceded by vegetables. However, Jessie clarifies, “What I’m explaining is that adding a veggie starter to your usual habits will significantly help your health. I’m not saying add a veggie starter and eat worse than before. I’m saying eat like you normally eat plus add this hack in and you will see an impact.” The goal isn’t to justify poor dietary choices, but to encourage realistic, incremental changes.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sabine Kapasi – CEO at Enira Consulting, Founder of ROPAN Healthcare, and UN advisor – shared that reducing salt intake is crucial for public health, particularly in India, where excessive salt consumption is linked to approximately 175,000 deaths annually due to high blood pressure-related issues. Also read | Always add extra salt to your meals? Here’s what it actually does to your body over time
WHO states that excessive sodium intake causes millions of deaths worldwide each year.(Shutterstock)
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily sodium intake of less than 2 grams (or 5 grams of salt), but Indians consume over 12 grams of salt daily, more than double the recommended amount. Highlighting this, Dr Kapasi said, “Too much salt is slowly killing people. WHO states that excessive sodium intake causes approximately 1.9 million deaths worldwide each year. The recommended daily intake of sodium is 2 grams, but the average person worldwide consumes more than 4.3 grams.”
She added, “The situation in India is even worse. A national workshop with Resolve to Save Lives in June this year showed that Indians eat more than 12 grams of salt a day, which is more than twice the recommended amount. This is linked to about 175,000 deaths each year from problems related to high blood pressure.”
Dr Kapasi further shared that one of the main causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems in the country is high blood pressure: “The cost of treating these conditions is very high, and the economic effects go beyond hospitals. Early deaths and long-term illnesses lower productivity and put more stress on families that are already dealing with rising healthcare costs.”
Salt hiding in everyday foods
According to Dr Kapasi, cutting back on salt can be tough because it’s hidden in many foods that don’t even taste salty. “It is hard to cut back on salt because it can be found in foods that most people do not consider salty. Bread, cheese, instant noodles, packaged snacks, canned soups, and even breakfast cereals all have a lot of sodium in them. As more people in cities rely on processed foods, India could make the same mistakes as richer countries, where packaged foods became staples before regulations caught up,” she said.
Reducing sodium intake is crucial for public health, particularly in countries like India, where excessive salt consumption is linked to numerous deaths. Dr Kapasi shared what we can learn from other countries and how India can benefit.
She said, “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that processed foods make up almost 80 percent of the sodium people in Australia eat. Health officials have made lowering sodium levels in food a top priority because one in three adults already has high blood pressure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set voluntary goals for food makers in the US to lower the amount of sodium in their products. These examples show that rules and people knowing about them can change how food systems work.”
She added, “India has an edge in this case. Compared to richer countries, packaged and ultra-processed foods still make up a smaller part of people’s diets. Setting sodium limits early on can prevent people from relying on salty packaged foods.”
WHO recently said that potassium-enriched salt is a good alternative to regular table salt. It has potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride.(Shutterstock)
Why potassium-enriched salt is a good option
Dr Kapasi highlighted that potassium-enriched salt is gaining attention as a healthier alternative to regular table salt – by replacing some sodium chloride with potassium chloride, it reduces sodium intake while increasing potassium consumption, benefiting heart and muscle health.
She said, “WHO recently said that potassium-enriched salt is a good alternative to regular table salt. It has potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. This simple change lowers the amount of sodium you eat and raises the amount of potassium, which is important for the health of your heart and muscles. The WHO says that people should get 3.5 grams of potassium every day, but most people do not.”
“The Lancet published research that says that using potassium-enriched salt widely could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year in countries like India and China. India could see major public health benefits from encouraging its use in homes, schools, and the food industry. Cost and distribution are still problems, but with help from the government and the industry, the product can get to homes of all income levels,” Dr Kapasi added.
Putting higher rates on foods loaded with sodium and tightening rules on ads that target children could send a clear signal to both companies and consumers.
Why policy should be in charge
Dr Kapasi explained that implementing nutrition labels on food packages, taxes on high-sodium foods, and stricter advertising regulations can encourage healthier choices. “Individual awareness is helpful, but policy changes are needed to make the system work better. Nutrition labels on the front of packages that are easy to read can help people make choices and force food companies to change their recipes. Countries in Latin America have shown that these kinds of labels make people less likely to buy foods high in sodium,” she said.
Dr Kapasi added, “Taxes can make a difference too. Putting higher rates on foods loaded with sodium and tightening rules on ads that target children would send a clear signal to both companies and consumers. Food makers may resist, but the savings in healthcare and the lives protected outweigh the short-term opposition.”
India’s commitment and gaps
She further shared that India aims to reduce average salt consumption by 30 percent by 2030 — however, progress has been slow due to the lack of a national strategy for reducing salt intake. According to Dr Kapasi, Nutrition Week 2025 (September 1-7) presents an opportunity to push for stronger action and bring policymakers, industry, and healthcare professionals together to address this critical public health issue.
Dr Kapasi said, “India has promised to cut the average amount of salt people eat by 30 percent by 2030. This is a change from its previous goal of 2025, which was in line with WHO’s global non-communicable disease action plan. Things have not gone smoothly so far, mostly because there is no national strategy for reducing salt intake. The rules are still weak, and not many people know about them.”
She added that ‘nutrition campaigns are progressing;. “They are reaching more people, and public health advocates are pushing for stronger action. Nutrition Week 2025 is an opportunity to keep salt reduction in focus and bring policymakers, industry, and healthcare professionals to the same table,” Dr Kapasi said.
A shared responsibility
According to Dr Kapasi, reducing salt intake is a collective effort that requires government policies, food industry reformulation, healthcare professional guidance, and public awareness. Individuals cannot be the only ones responsible for cutting back on salt.
She said, “It should be easier to make healthy choices because of government policies. Food companies need to change the way they make their products and market them. Doctors and nurses need to tell their patients about the dangers of eating too much salt. The media and civil society should help raise awareness.”
“If people do not pay attention, the country could end up with more preventable diseases that hurt the economy and make communities weaker. India’s young population is thought to be an economic strength, but that strength is weakened if high blood pressure and heart disease keep getting worse,” she added.
Dr Kapasi concluded, “There is no doubt about the evidence that too much salt is killing millions of people around the world and hundreds of thousands in India. Potassium-enriched salt, nutrition labels, taxes on unhealthy products, and stricter advertising rules are all things that can help people eat less. Nutrition Week 2025 should mark a new beginning. One of the cheapest ways to improve public health is to cut down on salt. If put into action with determination, it could save millions of lives, lower healthcare costs, and make life better for generations to come.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease, and the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-70 percent of cases, according to World Health Organisation. In a November 25, 2024 video shared on Instagram by Yale School of Medicine (YSM), Dr Carolyn Fredericks, a YSM neurologist who specialises in diagnosing and treating patients with cognitive and behavioural concerns, spoke about the potential sex-based differences in brain connectivity that may influence Alzheimer’s disease progression. Also read | Doctor explains how to know if you are at risk of Alzheimer’s disease: ‘There’s 1 test that can help intervene early’
Understanding the sex-specific differences in Alzheimer’s disease can help tailor prevention and treatment strategies for men and women. (Freepik)
Alzheimer’s risk in women
In the video, Dr Fredericks highlighted that women exhibit tighter connections in the posterior default mode network compared to men, a pattern that peaks around age 50 and strikingly resembles scans of individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s. While this increased connectivity correlates with better memory performance, Dr Fredericks hypothesised it might represent a ‘wear and tear’ effect, making these networks more vulnerable to neurodegeneration later on.
She said, “The default mode network, which is this network that’s really important for memory and seems to be especially targeted by Alzheimer’s disease, is much more tightly connected in the back parts of it in women than in men. And again, that difference peaks right around age 50. It looks a lot like if you look at scans of people who are amyloid positive, preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, so they have a positive amyloid scan, but they don’t yet have any symptoms. Their scans look very similar. Again, this kind of tightening of the connections in the back part of this network.”
Dr Fredericks added, “So, it’s very interesting that increased connectivity actually correlates with doing really well in memory tests. So, in a way, it’s an effective it’s an effective tool. It’s working. But it may be sort of like a highway that gets a lot of wear and tear and then becomes more vulnerable down the road compared to one that hasn’t been used quite as much.”
Does Alzheimer’s affect men and women differently?
The doctor shared that research aim to understand how these functional network variations in men and women relate to the accumulation of tau protein, a key marker of Alzheimer’s, and contribute to the observed more aggressive disease progression in women.
Dr Fredericks said, “So, that’s something that we’re trying to unpack. We want to look at the relationship between functional networks and that pathological protein tangle that I mentioned and try to understand how women and men might vary in the composition and properties of these networks and how that might contribute to more aggressive progression of tau in women.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health concern, affecting millions worldwide. From staying physically active to having a brain-nourishing diet, click here to learn about a few habits that can help keep Alzheimer’s at bay.
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Serious conditions like heart attacks were initially thought to affect older adults who had crossed middle age. But lately, heart attack scares are showing up more in young adults, as young as their 20s and 30s. Dr M Srinivasa Rao, regional clinical director and senior interventional cardiologist at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, also warned, revealing that many young adults are ending up in the hospital with very serious cardiac issues.
Fit and sporty individuals can suffer heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrests due to various reasons. Here is what to know. (Freepik)
ALSO READ: Cardiologist shares 5 compelling reasons to eat more home-cooked meals instead of ordering food online
Poor lifestyle is the biggest contributor to this surge in heart issues, as Dr Rao told HT Lifestyle that there are many lifestyle factors, along with genetic predisposition, responsible for increasing the risks of cardiac issues in young adults. He elaborated, “Long work hours, stress, irregular sleep, fast food habits, undiagnosed high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease. Even everyday exposure to pollution or occasional smoking can quietly damage arteries.”
Another common misconception is that poor health will also affect one’s appearance. However, this is not always the case; one may appear fine from the outside, but the damage has already started inside. Dr Rao warned, “A young adult might look fit on the outside, but early plaque can already be forming inside their blood vessels.”
This is why heart health cannot be pushed down the list of urgent priorities. People in their 20s and 30s are often more focused on skincare routines, treating early fine lines with retinol (as one should), but it’s also vital to pay attention to things that were earlier thought to be a concern in midlife- like cardiac health.
Right from the beginning, lifestyle needs to be changed, embracing healthier habits not just once in a while, but as a regular part of life. One of the essentials for keeping the heart healthy is staying active, even in small ways like taking stairs instead of the lift. He called it, “Consider exercise as giving your heart a daily workout rather than waiting for the weekend gym session.”
Dr Rao shared five tips young adults should follow to protect their hearts:
1. Watch what you are eating
Include more green vegetables in your diet.(Shutterstock)
Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and carrots, fruits such as berries and oranges, whole grains like oats and brown rice, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, olive oil, or avocado should make up most meals.
Fast food, sugary drinks, processed snacks, and excess salt should be occasional treats rather than daily staples.
2. 150 minutes of exercise every week
Be active and include daily movements through activities like brisk walking.(Shutterstock)
Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, and include two strength-training sessions.
Short bursts of activity during the day, taking the stairs, walking to a colleague’s desk, or a quick evening jog, can all add up.
ALSO READ: Take the stairs over lift: Study reveals just 3 minutes of daily movement can reduce heart attack and stroke risk
3. Check health numbers regularly
The health numbers reveal the health issue even before symptoms show up, so early detection allows you to take action before serious problems arise. (Shutterstock)
Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body weight and waist circumference often reveal hidden risks before symptoms appear.
A young adult might feel fine, yet their arteries could be under stress.
4. Manage stress
Young adults may be under a lot of stress at work, making stress management a must to protect heart. (Shutterstock)
Chronic stress raises blood pressure and inflammation in arteries.
Techniques like yoga, short breathing exercises, or even a 10-minute phone-free walk during the day can help.
Consider stress management as important as any diet or exercise.
5. Say no to smoking and drinking
From smoking, vaping, to drinking- they all put your heart health at risk. Young adults often are seen smoking or drinking, either from stress or at parties. (Freepik)
Heavy drinking strains the heart and can trigger dangerous rhythms.
Tobacco accelerates artery damage and increases clotting risk.
Social binge drinking can put susceptible young adults at risk.
It is vital to change negative habits and embrace healthier ones as heart attack is not waiting until middle age to hit, so don’t treat early adulthood like 20s and 30s as your lively years to ‘enjoy’ and openly neglect health.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
