Doctor Reveals Dangers of Sitting on the Toilet Too Long

A video has gone viral after a doctor shared what can happen if you sit on the toilet for too long, warning of the risk of hemorrhoids.

The video, which has racked up 32.5 million views and 260,000 likes since it was posted on October 10, consists of emergency medicine physician Dr. Joe Whittington—who goes by Dr. Joe online—blinking at the camera to a loud blinking sound effect, as if shocked.

The text on the screen reads: “When I tell my patients that prolonged sitting on the toilet causes blood to pool in your an@l veins which may cause hemorrhoids to form, so you’re best to not spend time sitting and scrolling.”

Whittington told Newsweek that he was surprised by the response the video has received online.

“I knew it was a relatable topic, but I didn’t expect the level of engagement and interest it’s received,” said Whittington. “It’s surprising how many people resonated with the message and even shared their own stories or ‘aha’ moments about their bathroom habits.

“It’s a reminder of how common certain health practices are and how many of us could use a little guidance on the impact of everyday habits.”

Commenters were shocked, horrified and amused by Whittington’s video, with Instagram user @crenz1989 commenting: “Can you mass send this to all husbands on Instagram”—to nearly 7,000 likes.

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels that are found inside or around the bottom, according to the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) website.

Symptoms may include bleeding after passing a stool, anal itching, tender lumps inside or hanging out of the anus, mucus or blood after passing a stool, and soreness, redness and swelling around the anus.

Whittington said: “Sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods can put unnecessary pressure on the veins in the lower rectum, which over time can lead to issues like hemorrhoids.

“This is especially true if you’re straining, but even just sitting there for an extended period can contribute to swelling of the veins around the anus, which is how hemorrhoids develop.”

Instagram user @mforshino commented, with 5000 likes: “So this only happens on the toilet and not sitting down on a chair?”

Whittington explained: “Toilets are designed differently from regular seats, so prolonged sitting isn’t ideal for blood flow or pelvic floor health.”

He said that scrolling on the toilet could increase the risk of hemorrhoids, by encouraging us to sit for longer without realizing it.

“While occasional long sessions are unlikely to cause serious issues, consistently spending long periods of time on the toilet can contribute to hemorrhoid formation, especially if someone is prone to constipation or straining,” said Whittington.

“For people with preexisting hemorrhoids or a family history, the risk is even higher.”

Whittington, who is based in California, said that he shared medical insights, health tips and stories from the emergency room on social media because he saw an opportunity to help people understand medical topics.

“With so much misinformation online, I wanted to create a space where followers could get real, practical health information, laugh to relatable content, or wind down from a long day with some engaging and surprising stories,” he said.

“Whether it’s through humor, storytelling or straight-up medical facts, my goal is to empower people to make informed choices about their health, while being entertained at the same time.”

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