An NHS doctor and surgeon has issued a stark health warning about a common daily habit, urging the public to follow a crucial '10-minute rule' to avoid painful medical conditions.
The Hidden Dangers of Prolonged Toilet Time
Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS GP, surgeon, and author of the Sunday Times bestseller 'This Book May Save Your Life', took to social media platform TikTok to highlight the risks. He explained that spending too long sitting on the toilet, often while using a phone, tablet, or reading material, places excessive strain on the body.
This seemingly harmless habit increases pressure on the rectum and anal area, Dr Rajan stressed. The design of the toilet seat, which is cut out, causes the rectum to sit lower. Gravity then takes effect, leading to blood pooling and clotting in the rectal veins.
How Straining Leads to 'Bum Grapes'
"Add in some straining and pushing, and this leads to even more pressure, causing the veins to bulge resulting in haemorrhoids, also known as piles or bum grapes," the doctor detailed in his video. Haemorrhoids are essentially bulging blood vessels around the anus, which cause symptoms including pain, significant itching, and bleeding.
According to the NHS, key signs of haemorrhoids to watch for include:
- Bright red blood after a bowel movement.
- An itchy anus.
- A feeling of needing to poo even after going to the toilet.
- Mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper.
- Lumps around your anus.
- Pain around your anus.
The Essential Take-Home Advice
Dr Rajan concluded with clear, actionable advice. You should only go to the toilet when you genuinely feel the need, avoid straining during a bowel movement, and critically, never spend more than 10 minutes on the toilet seat.
Knowing when to seek medical help is equally important. The NHS advises that you should consult your GP if your piles symptoms worsen or show no improvement after seven days of home treatment, if you keep getting them, or if you notice any abnormal change around your anus.
More urgent cases require immediate action. You should call NHS 111 or get an urgent GP appointment if you have a high temperature, feel hot and shivery, or if pus is leaking from your piles. In severe instances, call 999 if you experience non-stop bleeding, a large amount of blood (such as the toilet water turning red or passing large clots), or are in severe pain.
