Toileting Tips: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers of Bathroom Habits
We all do it, several times a day, but how much thought do you really give to popping to the loo? It turns out, it’s pretty easy to slip into dangerous territory when it comes to toilet habits – risking piles, organ prolapse, and nasty infections. More than 50% of Brits spend between 30 minutes and an hour in the bathroom each day, and a quarter spend more than two hours a week on the toilet, according to research by Wholesale Domestic Bathrooms.
But, many of us are likely making some cardinal bathroom sins. Here are five common mistakes to avoid, and the cheap gadgets that can help.
1. Straining to Urinate
When you’re in a rush and need to empty your bladder in record time, you might find yourself pushing hard to get urine out as quickly as possible. Dr Vijay Nayar from Healthium Clinics warns that this could lead to health problems down the line.
"Normal urination is a coordinated reflex," he explains. "The bladder contracts, the pelvic floor relaxes, and urine passes without effort. When someone strains, they are introducing abdominal pressure into a process that does not need it." Instead of improving emptying, this can disrupt the coordination between the bladder and pelvic floor, leaving more urine behind than if they had simply waited.
"If it’s a regular habit, over time it can affect how the pelvic floor muscles function, and residual urine in the bladder increases the risk of urinary tract infections, particularly in women," says Dr Nayar. To avoid this, sit comfortably, give yourself a moment, and let your body relax. There should be no pushing, and no urgency to finish quickly.
2. Straining to Poo
Pushing hard when you poo can be a sign of constipation, which affects one in seven UK adults, according to NHS data. A lack of fibre, minimal movement, and not drinking enough water are common causes of constipation. It is also common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body.
Straining can increase force in the anal canal and can result in haemorrhoids. These can occur due to engorgement of veins around the anal canal, which then cause pain, prolapse, swelling, and bleeding, warns Mr Pasha Nisar, a colorectal surgeon at New Victoria Hospital. To avoid this, move regularly, eat 30g of fibre per day, and drink two litres of water a day.
3. Poor Loot Posture
Are you slouched on the loo flicking through social media? You might be doing yourself a disservice. Keeping feet elevated on a stool or ‘squatty potty’ can help open and straighten the anorectal angle, allowing for a wider opening through which stool can pass.
A study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that in a squatting position, people were 3.6 times more likely to feel as though they’d emptied their bowels, and 95% less likely to strain. An easy way to keep your feet elevated is to use a simple folding step stool, which can be bought on Amazon for as little as £5.99.
4. Flushing with the Lid Open
Before you flush, close the loo lid to reduce the dreaded ‘toilet plume’. From a hygiene point of view, flushing with the lid down reduces droplets of water and particles shooting up into the air, which may carry bacteria and viruses from the bowl and settle on nearby surfaces like your sink, toothbrush, towels, or even your skin.
5. Holding it In
Need to go, but can’t? It’s not always possible to go for a poo when the urge kicks in. But if it is possible to go, then you must go. Regularly delaying stool evacuation can result in constipation, difficulty with hard stools, loss of sensation to evacuate, and even pelvic floor problems. Faecal impaction is another potential problem, which can cause bloating and pain.
Instead of having smooth, easy-to-pass stools, you may experience infrequent ‘pellet poos’ or ‘rabbit poos’. Your ‘poo window’ usually lasts up to about 20 minutes, so don’t ignore the urge and listen to your poo signals.
In conclusion, paying attention to our bathroom habits can significantly impact our health. By avoiding these common mistakes and adopting simple changes, we can reduce the risk of various health issues and improve our overall well-being.
