It sounds harmless, but spending too much time on your phone while on the toilet could be hurting your body. This isn’t a completely new warning. Long before smartphones, doctors noted that prolonged toilet sitting, even to read a magazine, could irritate veins and cause discomfort.

A study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston looked at 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopies. About two-thirds admitted to using their phones in the bathroom. Researchers discovered that phone users spent longer on the toilet, 37 percent of them over five minutes, compared with only 7 percent of non-users. The lesson is simple: limit your bathroom time and leave your phone outside. Paying attention to your habits and hygiene can prevent painful, avoidable problems. Smartphone habits may seem small, but they have real consequences. One scroll too many could turn your daily bathroom routine into a health risk. It’s time for you to decide how, when, and where you use your devices because your comfort and well-being are worth more than endless scrolling.