By Atoyebi Nike
Digital health educator Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has cautioned Nigerians against spending too much time on the toilet while using smartphones, warning that it can lead to haemorrhoids, commonly known as piles or “Jedi-Jedi.”
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Egemba explained that scrolling through social media while sitting on the toilet for long periods increases pressure on veins in the lower rectum, causing swelling and irritation.
He advised that toilet time should not exceed ten minutes, adding, “That 30-minute private time you’re spending scrolling Instagram or watching TikToks is the main culprit.”
Egemba urged Nigerians to eat more fibre-rich foods and drink enough water to ease bowel movements, stressing that the toilet “is for business, not for catching up on gist.”
A study cited by Medscape supports his warning, showing that smartphone use during toilet time raises the risk of haemorrhoids by 46 per cent.
