Doctors warn against prolonged toilet time due to health risks
New Delhi: Health experts are urging the public to limit time spent on the toilet, cautioning that prolonged sessions can lead to health issues such as haemorrhoids and weakened pelvic muscles. With many individuals using their phones in the bathroom, what begins as a quick break can easily extend into 15 minutes of scrolling.
Colorectal surgeon Dr. Lai Xue from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported seeing a pattern of bathroom-related health complaints among patients. He noted that sitting on a toilet seat places the body in a vulnerable position, increasing the strain on the pelvic floor and potentially leading to conditions like rectal prolapse.
The design of the toilet seat and the seated position can impair blood flow from the rectum, causing swollen blood vessels and heightened risk of haemorrhoids. Dr. Farah Monzur, an assistant professor at Stony Brook Medicine, advised limiting bathroom time and keeping distractions like phones out of the bathroom to avoid unintentional straining.
Additionally, Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County, recommended keeping toilet sessions brief, suggesting individuals adopt a "quick approach" and avoid making bathroom visits a prolonged activity.
For those experiencing constipation, Dr. Xue suggested alternatives such as gentle movement, adequate hydration, and a high-fibre diet. Extended toilet sessions may also indicate underlying health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or even colon cancer, if constipation persists for more than three weeks.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
