【英文阅读】Phones keep us seated long past the finish line

Your bathroom scroll may be reshaping your body in ways you can’t feel, until it hurts.

你在厕所里的刷手机习惯，可能正在以你无法察觉的方式重塑身体，直到疼痛来临。

A new study finds that using a smartphone on the toilet is linked to a 46 percent higher risk of hemorrhoids, the painfully swollen veins in the rectum that send millions to clinics each year.

一项新研究发现，如厕时使用智能手机与痔疮风险增加46%有关。痔疮是直肠内疼痛性肿胀的静脉，每年让数百万人就医。

The culprit isn’t blue light or “dirty” screens, it’s time. Phones keep us seated long past the finish line.

罪魁祸首不是蓝光或“脏”屏幕，而是时间。手机让我们在马桶上坐得远超“完事”的时间。

Gastroenterologists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center surveyed 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy.

贝斯以色列女执事医疗中心的胃肠病学家调查了125名接受结肠镜检查的成年人。

Two-thirds admitted to scrolling while seated, and those users lingered: 37 percent spent more than five minutes per visit, compared with just 7 percent of non-users.

三分之二的人承认会在如厕时刷手机，而这些使用者停留更久：37%的人每次花费超过5分钟，而非使用者只有7%。

After accounting for age, exercise, and fiber, phone use still tracked with higher hemorrhoid risk.

在调整了年龄、运动和膳食纤维等因素后，手机使用依然与痔疮风险升高相关。

Hemorrhoids aren’t foreign invaders, they’re normal vascular cushions that help seal the canal and guide stool.

痔疮并非外来“敌人”，它们本是正常的血管垫，帮助封闭肛管并引导粪便排出。

Trouble begins when tissue engorges and slips, leading to bleeding, itching, and pain.

问题出在组织充血并下移时，会引起出血、瘙痒和疼痛。

Classic wisdom blames straining and low fiber, but evidence is converging on another driver, prolonged sitting on a seat that leaves the pelvic floor unsupported, increasing pressure on delicate vessels.

传统观点认为痔疮源于排便用力和膳食纤维不足，但新的证据指向另一原因：长时间坐在马桶上，使盆底缺乏支撑，增加了脆弱血管的压力。

Smartphones act like glue. News feeds, social media, and messages stretch a quick stop into an unintended sit-in, amplifying pressure minute by minute.

智能手机就像胶水。新闻推送、社交媒体和消息把一次短暂停留拖成“静坐示威”，每一分钟都在加大压力。

Notably, the study did not find an independent link between straining and hemorrhoids in phone users, hinting that duration may matter more than effort.

值得注意的是，研究并未发现手机使用者的排便用力与痔疮有独立关联，这暗示时间可能比用力更重要。

This was a small, cross-sectional study, so it shows association, not causation.

这是一项小规模的横断面研究，因此只显示相关性，而非因果关系。

Still, the practical guidance is simple and low-risk: answer nature’s call, then stand up.

不过，实用的建议简单且低风险：有便意就如厕，完事就起身。

Aim for five minutes or less, build fiber and hydration into your day, and consider leaving the phone outside the door.

尽量控制在5分钟以内，日常摄入足够纤维和水分，并考虑把手机留在厕所外。

As senior author Trisha Pasricha puts it, going number two should be your number one priority, not scrolling.

正如资深作者 Trisha Pasricha 所说：“排便应该是第一优先，而不是刷手机。”

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精选词汇

【hemorrhoid】/'hmrd/ n. swollen vein in rectum 痔疮

例句：Hemorrhoids are a common cause of rectal bleeding. 痔疮是直肠出血的常见原因。

【rectum】/'rktm/ n. final section of the large intestine 直肠

例句：The rectum stores stool before excretion. 直肠储存粪便以备排出。

【culprit】/'klprt/ n. the cause of a problem 罪魁祸首

例句：Sugar is often the culprit behind obesity. 糖常常是肥胖的罪魁祸首。

【linger】/'lɡr/ v. to stay longer than necessary 逗留

例句：He lingered at the café after finishing his drink. 他喝完后仍在咖啡馆逗留。

【colonoscopy】/kol'nɑskpi/ n. medical exam of the colon 结肠镜检查

例句：Colonoscopy helps detect colon cancer early. 结肠镜有助于早期发现结肠癌。

【account for】/'kant fr/ v. to consider or adjust for 解释；控制变量

例句：The analysis accounted for age and lifestyle. 分析考虑了年龄和生活方式。

【vascular】/'vaeskjlr/ adj. related to blood vessels 血管的

例句：Vascular diseases affect the circulatory system. 血管疾病影响循环系统。

【cushion】/'kn/ n. something soft providing support 垫层

例句：Vascular cushions help control stool passage. 血管垫帮助控制排便。

【engorge】/n'ɡrd/ v. to swell with blood 充血

例句：Veins engorge under increased pressure. 静脉在压力增加时会充血。

【slip】/slp/ v. to move out of place 下移，滑脱

例句：The tissue slipped beyond its normal boundary. 组织滑移超过了正常范围。

【itching】/'t/ n. uncomfortable skin sensation 瘙痒

例句：Hemorrhoids often cause itching and irritation. 痔疮常导致瘙痒和不适。

【straining】/'stren/ n. excessive pushing 用力排便

例句：Chronic straining increases hemorrhoid risk. 长期用力排便会增加痔疮风险。

【pelvic floor】/'plvk flr/ n. muscles supporting pelvic organs 盆底

例句：Weak pelvic floor muscles can cause prolapse. 盆底肌肉薄弱可导致脱垂。

【unsupported】/ns'prtd/ adj. lacking support 缺乏支撑的

例句：Sitting unsupported increases pressure on vessels. 坐姿缺乏支撑会增加血管压力。

【delicate】/'dlkt/ adj. fragile, easily damaged 脆弱的

例句：The rectal veins are delicate and easily injured. 直肠静脉脆弱易损伤。

【amplify】/'aemplfa/ v. to increase or intensify 放大，加剧

例句：Phones amplify the time spent on the toilet. 手机加剧了如厕时间的延长。

【independent】/nd'pndnt/ adj. not influenced by other factors 独立的

例句：There was no independent link with straining. 没有发现与用力的独立关联。

【duration】/dju'ren/ n. length of time 持续时间

例句：The duration of sitting matters more than effort. 坐的时间比用力更重要。

【cross-sectional study】/krs 'sknl 'stdi/ n. study analyzing data at one point 横断面研究

例句：A cross-sectional study cannot prove causation. 横断面研究不能证明因果关系。

【association】/sosi'en/ n. connection or relationship 关联

例句：There was an association between phone use and hemorrhoids. 手机使用与痔疮之间存在关联。

【causation】/k'zen/ n. cause-and-effect relationship 因果关系

例句：The study shows association, not causation. 该研究显示相关性，而非因果关系。

【hydration】/ha'dren/ n. maintaining fluid balance 水分摄入

例句：Adequate hydration prevents constipation. 足够的水分摄入可防止便秘。

【priority】/pra'rti/ n. most important thing 优先事项

例句：Health should be your number one priority. 健康应是你的首要任务。

【swollen】/'swoln/ adj. enlarged by fluid or blood 肿胀的

例句：The swollen veins caused discomfort. 肿胀的静脉引起不适。

【clinic】/'klnk/ n. healthcare facility 诊所

例句：Millions visit clinics for hemorrhoid treatment. 数百万人为治疗痔疮而就诊。

【unsupported posture】/ns'prtd 'pɑstr/ n. sitting without support 缺乏支撑的坐姿

例句：Unsupported posture increases rectal pressure. 缺乏支撑的坐姿增加直肠压力。

【overlooked】/ovr'lkt/ adj. ignored or unnoticed 被忽视的

例句：An overlooked habit can still harm your health. 被忽视的习惯也可能损害健康。

【gastroenterologist】/ɡaestront'rɑldst/ n. doctor specializing in digestive system 胃肠病学家

例句：A gastroenterologist diagnosed his condition. 胃肠病学家诊断了他的病情。