You probably already know that bringing your cell phone into the bathroom with you isn't the *best* idea -- but that doesn't stop most of us, right?
(In fact, 93% of our studio audience admitted to doing it!)
So, if you need concrete reasons to stop immediately, gastroenterologist Dr. Anish Sheth -- who's affiliated with the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro -- says it all boils down to 2 “h” words: hygiene and hemorrhoids.
REASON #1 YOU SHOULDN’T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE TO THE BATHROOM: HYGIENE (TRANSLATION: BACTERIA… FROM THE TOILET)
After use, a bathroom is *way* dirtier than meets the naked eye, Dr. Anish stresses.
"There [are] germs everywhere," the doc says as he demonstrates the amount of splatter that happens after a bathroom is used.
Don't believe him? See what happened when he did a black light examination on a public restroom:
(Fair warning: It's a bit disturbing!)
Soooo, as you can imagine, taking your phone into the bathroom -- let alone putting your phone DOWN in there -- is *not* ideal.
And how dirty do phones get, you ask?
"83% of our cell phones actually have bacteria on them," Dr. Anish explains.
"And it gets worse," he continues, they can even have E. coli.
Nooo! ?
Now, if you have no choice but to bring your phone into the restroom (last resort, people!) , the doctor suggests shutting the toilet lid before flushing, as bacteria can become aerosolized as high as 15 feet in the air.
You heard us!
(Oh, and for that same reason, keep your toothbrush least 6 to 7 feet from the toilet at all times, the gastroenterologist advises!)
REASON #2 YOU SHOULDN’T BRING YOUR CELL PHONE TO THE BATHROOM: HEMORRHOIDS (TRANSLATION: TOO MUCH TIME ON THE TOILET)
The hygiene explanation makes perfect sense, right?
But where do hemorrhoids come in?!
Allow the doctor to explain!
"It's because you're spending more time on the toilet [if you have your phone]," he explains. "Being on the toilet is not a good thing."
Moral of the story? Get in and get out, everyone!
