Hawaii residents who scroll through their phones while using the bathroom may be increasing their risk of developing a painful and costly medical condition, according to new research published in the medical journal PLOS One.

The study found that people who use smartphones during toilet visits have a 46 percent higher risk of hemorrhoids compared to those who leave their devices elsewhere, according to researchers led by Chethan Ramprasad of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Hemorrhoids affect millions of Americans each year, accounting for nearly 4 million doctor and emergency room visits annually and generating more than $800 million in healthcare costs, according to the study. The condition involves swollen veins in the anal or rectal area that can cause significant pain and bleeding.

The research examined 125 adults undergoing screening colonoscopies, according to the study authors. Participants completed online surveys about their lifestyle habits and typical bathroom behavior before medical professionals examined them for signs of hemorrhoids.

Two-thirds of participants reported using smartphones while on the toilet, according to the findings. These smartphone users were generally younger than those who avoided bringing phones into the bathroom.

After researchers adjusted for factors that could influence hemorrhoid risk—including age, exercise habits, and fiber intake—smartphone users still showed a 46 percent higher risk of developing the condition, according to the study results.

The research suggests that extended toilet time may play a key role in this increased risk. About 37 percent of smartphone users reported spending more than five minutes on the toilet during a single visit, compared to only 7.1 percent of non-users, according to the study data.

When participants used their phones in the bathroom, they most commonly reported reading news or browsing social media, according to the survey responses.

The researchers believe smartphone use may unintentionally extend toilet sitting time, which could increase pressure on anal tissues and contribute to hemorrhoid development, according to the study conclusions.

Interestingly, the study did not find a connection between straining during bowel movements and hemorrhoid risk, which differs from some earlier research findings, according to the authors.

“Using a smartphone while on the toilet was linked to a 46 percent increased chance of having hemorrhoids,” said Trisha Pasricha, senior author of the study. “We’re still uncovering the many ways smartphones and our modern way of life impact our health. It’s possible that how and where we use them — such as while in the bathroom — can have unintended consequences.”

The findings could help Hawaii healthcare providers offer more practical guidance to patients about bathroom habits, according to the researchers. Local doctors treating the substantial number of hemorrhoid cases seen annually across the islands may now have additional evidence-based recommendations for prevention.

The research addresses a long-suspected connection between bathroom phone use and hemorrhoids that doctors and patients have discussed, but which had received little scientific examination until now, according to the study authors.

Future studies may build on this research by following patients over longer periods or testing strategies designed to reduce smartphone use during bathroom visits, according to the researchers.

The study reinforces simple health advice that could benefit Hawaii residents: leaving smartphones outside the bathroom may help prevent a painful and expensive medical condition that affects millions nationwide each year.

For Hawaii’s healthcare system, which already manages significant costs related to preventable conditions, encouraging patients to modify this common habit could potentially reduce both individual suffering and healthcare expenses related to hemorrhoid treatment.