You may want to read this message through your bathroom door to your loved ones: Due to serious health concerns, doctors recommend that you don’t use the bathroom for more than 10 minutes at a time.
In other words, “Shit” or “Get out” is now official medical advice and can be used against your spouse. You’re welcome.
But let’s recap: According to a recent study, men take almost twice as long as women to go to the bathroom, an average of 20 minutes. Interestingly, the men in my life are very good at disappearing for 30 to 45 minute potty breaks, especially when the family needs them most, such as after dinner and the exact time the kids need to go to bed while the kitchen needs cleaning.
Here’s another fact: A 2017 study found all mammals, including human males, If the pipes are working properly, it won’t take more than 12 seconds to poop.
Finally: A 2018 British study found that at least a third of men spend long periods of time in the bathroom for exactly what their spouses suspect: They’re escaping from family life. Another 25% admitted to using the bathroom to “cope,” while 23% said they considered it a “safe space.”
Now, one doctor has taken to Instagram to share one of the biggest health concerns of his long reign, and it’s going viral.
“When I tell my patients, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time can cause blood to pool in the anal veins, which can lead to hemorrhoids forming, so you’re better off spending your time sitting and rolling,” says Dr. Joe Whittington. .
So far, the video has been liked by more than 275,000 people and viewed more than 30 million times – although there’s no way of knowing how many people watched it on WC.
“Can you send this to all the husbands on Instagram?” read one of the most popular comments.
Although another popular comment is the “toilet comment”.
This isn’t the first time doctors have warned men about spending too much unnecessary time in the bathroom, and hemorrhoids aren’t the only thing to worry about.
Dr. Jonathan Lazare, MD, is a urologist practicing in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Lazar explained to Horrible Mom in 2017 that sitting for too long and too often can cause rectal fissures, increase the chance of hernias, and may even worsen varicocele (basically varicose veins in the scrotum) in men.
Additionally, in rare cases, rectal prolapse may occur (don’t do an image search, trust me).
“Do what you have to do and get out,” Dr. Lazar said bluntly.
If you’re looking for decorating ideas, spray painting your bathroom walls sounds like a perfect option.
All of these problems occur because of your position on the toilet, Dr. Xue Lai, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told CNN. The oval hole in the toilet positions the rectum lower than the rest of the body and puts pressure on the buttocks in a very different way than sitting on a chair or couch.
“When the blood comes in, it becomes a one-way value, but the blood really can’t go back,” Xue said.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you have abdominal problems such as colitis or a stomach virus, you will need some extra time. But if you haven’t pooped after 10 minutes, Xue suggests getting out of there and trying again later.
