Do you take your phone to the bathroom? These are the reasons why you shouldn’t do it

Carrying our cell phone everywhere we go is common for most people. In the subway, at work, at home, sitting at the table or when going to the toilet. More than 90% of humans own or use a daily cell phone and it is difficult for us to imagine what life would be like without it.

Of all the things we use every day, studies indicate that we rarely abandon our cell phones. According to a survey carried out in the USA in 2019 , A user checks their phone approximately 96 times a day, or once every 10 minutes. 20% more than the last survey carried out two years ago.

Although human skin is naturally covered in microbes that have no negative health consequences, we often transfer any microorganism to our mobile device. A source of germs that we carry everywhere.

Studies have shown that Cell phones can harbor a multitude of viruses and bacteria that can harm your health since we usually leave our cell phone anywhere, often dirty.

Bathrooms are also large sources of pathogens, such as fecal matter, such as E.coli and germs from surfaces. All the bacteria collected during our daily activities end up in a common place: the cell phone, which we often carry near our face. According to a study carried out by researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia, People touch their faces about 23 times per hour, or 368 times per day.

This increases the risk of infections such as colds, flu and gastrointestinal illnesses. Nail investigation conducted in 2019 by YouGov Realtime revealed that the majority of Brits (57%) used their phone in the bathroom.

A University of Arizona study found that 90% of their students and volunteers’ phones were contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria. Remains of fecal matter were also identified in 16% of the equipment. If these viruses reach the mouth, eyes and ears, they can cause terrible illnesses.

Several studies carried out on the microbiological colonization of mobile phones show that can be contaminated with many different types of potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as E.coli which causes diarrhea ; Staphylococcus which infects the skin, Enterococcus, which causes meningitis; Actinobacteria, which can cause tuberculosis and diphtheria; Hepatitis; gastroenteritis and other diarrheal diseases.

Recent research has shown that many phone pathogens are often resistant to antibiotics, meaning they cannot be treated with conventional medications.

And if that wasn’t enough, using the phone in the bathroom can cause hemorrhoids , which is a painful condition in which the veins surrounding the rectum and anus become inflamed. By sitting for this long, the blood begins to put pressure on the veins in the rectal area.

Additionally, the problem with using the phone in the bathroom is that you lose track of time and tend to stay longer than necessary. Sitting for long periods This can contribute to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems over time. “In general, you should spend no more than 10 minutes [sentado]on average,” Dr. Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone, told the Washington Post about it.

To counter this problem, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to ensure hygiene and health. Since most people will continue to carry their phone around and leave it anywhere, It is important to wash your hands correctly and adequately, clean your cell phone with water and alcohol, lower the toilet seat to prevent germs from spreading, and clean the bathroom in a way that reduces pathogens.

Disinfection should be a regular process. In fact, the United States Federal Communications Commission recommends daily cleaning phone and other devices.

The best thing to clean your cell phone is to use a a microfiber cloth soaked in warm soapy water, or specific products for cleaning electronic devices. Let’s not forget to turn off the phone and unplug it from the mains.

For a deeper clean, we can use a combination of 60% water and 40% isopropyl alcohol (costs on average 3,000 pesos), dipping the cloth in the solution before gently wiping it on the phone.

You can even use alcohol and distilled water inside a spray bottle, spray the exterior of the device and finish cleaning with a cotton swab. If possible, wear gloves or wash your hands before the process. Make a habit of putting your phone away when it’s not in use and disinfecting it or washing your hands.