Prolonged phone use on toilet causing haemorrhoids, say doctors
New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI): Prolonged mobile phone use while sitting on the toilet is contributing to a surge in haemorrhoids and anal fistulas, doctors have said.
The habit, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, is putting increased strain on the rectal area, leading to painful conditions that often require medical intervention, they added.
Dr Jignesh Gandhi -- a senior robotic and laparoscopic surgeon at Gleneagles Hospital in Mumbai -- highlighted the concern, linking it to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive phone use in toilets.
He was speaking at the 74th foundation day of ESIC Hospital in Okhla on Saturday.
Dr Ravi Ranjan, a surgery specialist at the hospital, said it recorded more than 500 cases of haemorrhoids and fistulas in a year.
He pointed to poor lifestyle habits such as low water intake, excessive consumption of junk food and extended time on the toilet as key contributors.
Marengo Asia Hospital surgeon Dr Birbal said, "Chronic constipation from poor diet and prolonged time spent sitting on the toilet create a vicious cycle."
"This puts undue stress on the rectal area, leading to painful inflammation, which can result in haemorrhoids and, in severe cases, anal fistulas," he added.
The experts said the rising number of such cases was straining government hospitals.
They also highlighted the potential of minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation of haemorrhoids under local anaesthesia (Rafaelo) to ease the burden.
"The Rafaelo procedure, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and widely used in the UK's National Health Service, offers quicker recovery, same-day discharge, and reduced waiting times compared to traditional surgical methods," said Ranjan.
However, despite being introduced in India about three to four years ago, awareness about radiofrequency treatments remains low among surgeons, he noted.
In high-volume institutions such as ESIC and AIIMS, where patient backlogs extend for months due to limited operation theatres, radiofrequency ablation can prove to be revolutionary, the doctors said.
Since the procedure can be performed in minor operation theatres or outpatient department settings under local anaesthesia, they suggested it could help treat 40-50 patients a day in both government and private hospitals.
Doctors are urging greater awareness and adoption of advanced treatments such as Rafaelo to improve patient care while alleviating pressure on India's healthcare system.
Gleneagles Hospital's Gandhi said, "With wider adoption of radiofrequency procedures, we can ensure faster and more effective relief for patients while easing the load on hospitals."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Confident we are going to win Kerala: Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday expressed confidence in the victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, saying the Congress-led alliance will win more than 75 seats out of the total 140 in the state.
Tharoor, who hails from Kerala, said he was not surprised to see the results of the exit polls, most of which predicted a victory for the UDF that has been out of power for 10 years in the state.
"We have been on the ground. I have campaigned in 59 constituencies across 12 districts out of 14. I was very confident we are going to win.
"Everything that I have picked up from not just my party colleagues and workers but also from other observers, media and others have always convinced me that we were going to score a comfortable win of above 75 seats. And all the (exit) polls have confirmed the same thing," he told reporters here.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he was not surprised to see the results of the exit polls but in general he was not a big fan of exit polls in India.
"Because ours is not purely a homogenous society. We have to take into account gender issue, caste issue, class issue, regional disparities. You never get a convincingly large enough sample to give an accurate poll and now there is the additional complication that we have heard about in West Bengal this year that many people are unwilling to answer the questions of the pollsters," he said.
The Congress leader said normally, it used to be below 10 per cent that people said that they would not answer.
"Even if you are a reputable exit pollster, in Bengal, one polling company has said 60 per cent of people refused to answer. So, what is the worth of a poll where 60 per cent of your respondents have not answered," he said.
Several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala after 10 years, dethroning the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Polling for the 140-member Kerala assembly was held on April 9. Results of assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry, besides Kerala, will be announced on May 4.
