Did you know that in the United States, people make 2.5 million doctor visits related to constipation and spend hundreds of millions of dollars on laxatives annually? Many believe these health issues come as a direct result of the way people in the United States use the toilet.
This article will explore how your posture on the toilet can impact your ability to eliminate as well as one potential solution.
Is the modern toilet partially to blame for bowel-related health complications?
Many health issues can be seen as a result of the modern toilet, including:
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Colon disease
- Urinary difficulty & infections
- Pelvic floor issues
Should everyone be squatting at the toilet to avoid health complications such as hemorrhoids and constipation?
As neuroscientist, Daniel Lamette wrote in Slate in 2010, squatting allows the anorectal angle to straighten, making defecation easier. Squatting can end hemorrhoids, prevent colon disease, improve pelvic floor issues, among additional health benefits.
Squatting does, in fact, increase the rectal angle, but sitting creates a reasonable angle for most people. Additionally, it’s important to consider that not everyone experiencing bowel issues is physically able to squat.
Help your stool with a stool.
As previously discussed, the body is meant to be in a squatting position, and sitting on a toilet causes a bend in the rectum, making it more difficult to have complete bowel movements. While squatting at the toilet may not be an optimal option, a stool under the feet ensures your body is in the optimal angle for eliminating.
No pain, no strain.
In a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, after four weeks of using a toilet stool, 71 percent of the participants had faster bowel movements and 90 percent reported less straining.
If you are experiencing bowel issues, you should discuss it with your doctor, who can not only help you feel better but also help prevent additional issues down the road. A toilet footstool is an easy fix anyone can try. Want to join the movement? Take a look at StrongTek’s squatting stool.