Travellers visiting the United States are being warned about a “dreaded” four-letter code that might appear on their boarding pass. It comes as around four million people from the United Kingdom travelled to the USA last year.
And while many of them will pass through security with ease, some will notice their boarding pass marked with SSSS. The code stands for “Secondary Security Screening Selection” and means you will face additional checks before entering the USA. “It means that Uncle Sam is concerned about you. He has some prior information that he would like to discuss further. Probably not over coffee and cake,” writes the Daily Telegraph.
YouTuber Mark Wolters who documents his travels on his channel Wolters World was recently picked for an enhanced check when returning to the US. In a video, he explained: “I got the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass.
“That means, ‘Congratulations, you’ve been selected for Secondary Security Screening Selection’, i.e you get to go through security a bit more rigorously than normal passengers.”
According to Travel and Leisure, people who have had the SSSS code printed on their boarding pass have reportedly had their hand luggage searched more thoroughly, been patted down, and even had their devices checked.
It is thought the additional checks can take anywhere from a few extra minutes to over half an hour. The Department of Homeland Security previously revealed the “vast majority” of people who go through the additional checks are due to “random selection”.
It also claimed only a “very small subset” of people are chosen as “selectees”. There are however some people who may be on watchlists and are checked.
Mark explained: “They do, do random selection on the airlines. They do when you’re booking planes, it’s like, ‘Hey, you’ve been randomly selected, sorry pal’. It does happen, I’ve been randomly selected.”
Mark encourages travellers not to “worry” or get upset should they notice they have been selected for additional checks. He however warns passengers that there are things they can do that he believes are more likely to lead to checks, including “weird travel habits”.
While there is no official criteria for the additional checks, it is thought that a one-way ticket, cash purchases, or frequently flying to “unusual destinations” can lead to the additional security checks.
In order to make your passage through security smoother, Mark suggests packing properly. He says passengers should make sure they don’t over pack when it comes to liquids and shouldn’t stack electronics in their bags.
Mark also warns that carrying large amounts of cash could lead to additional checks. And while there isn’t a certain amount passengers can take into the United States, an amount over $10,000 (around £7,400) must be reported to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.
Mark Hamill making an appearance as Luke Skywalker in the second season of The Mandalorian was a great Easter egg moment for Star Wars fans who believed that they had seen the last of the character after his divisive appearances in the sequel trilogy. For Hamill, though, there was a very special feeling about being able to fill in a missing part of Luke’s Star Wars journey that he had not been able to fulfill in any of the movies.
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of Stephen King adaptation, The Long Walk, in which he stars as a sadistic army officer overseeing a brutal “walk-or-die” dystopian marathon, Hamill shared his feelings on why his appearance in The Mandalorian was something he really just had to do.
“The reason I did Mandalorian was that Luke had a beginning and an end. There was no middle. It was like making a trilogy about James Bond as a young boy who first became aware of the Secret Service and wanted to be a part of it. Part two was him training to be an agent. Part three is earning his license to kill — The End. No From Russia With Love, Dr. No or Goldfinger.
“You never got to see Luke as a Master Jedi at the peak of his powers. He was the most idealistic character in that series. He was someone who would take adversity and double down and come back and counter his setbacks. We didn’t see any of that. So when I got the chance, I thought, ‘Geez, this is wonderful.’ I think Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, boy, do they get Star Wars. They get it. They’re speaking the same language that George did in a way that I questioned in the sequels.”
Mark Hamill Had an Alternate Luke Skywalker Backstory for ‘The Last Jedi’
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars The Last JediDisney
“I thought, what could make someone give up a devotion to what is basically a religious entity, to give up being a Jedi?Well, the love of a woman. So he falls in love with a woman. He gives up being a Jedi. They have a child together. At some point the child, as a toddler, picks up an unattended lightsaber, pushes the button and is killed instantly. The wife is so full of grief, she kills herself. I thought, that would be… because I hear these horrible stories about these children who find unattended guns and wind up dead. That resonated with me so deeply that, that could possibly… but he didn’t have the time to tell a backstory like that, I’m guessing. He just wanted a brief thing to explain it. And to me, it didn’t justify it.
That said — and I told him [Johnson] this — despite the fact that I disagree with your choices for Luke, I’m going to do everything within my power to make your screenplay work as best as I can. And the only thing unfortunate about that is, I’ve heard comments from fans who think that I somehow dislike Rian Johnson, and nothing could be further from the truth.”
Needless to say that the story audiences were treated to was perhaps not the best received of any character’s arc in the sequels, but whether a darker turn would have helped the movie in any way is something we will never know. However, it seems that, for Hamill, he has done everything he wanted to with Luke Skywalker, and there is little else anyone can ask for in a role.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
All the details about the Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 update have been revealed by developer HoYoverse, including its release date, new characters, banner structure, and livestream codes. At the moment, players are in the final stages of Version 3.5, an important patch that added Hysilens and Cerydra to Honkai: Star Rail, though in current Phase 2 banners, only Cerydra can be obtained.
The game is getting ready to move into Version 3.6, and a lot of information about the upcoming patch was already known thanks to the ongoing beta tests. This includes details about Evernight’s and Dan Heng: Permansor Terrae’s gameplay kits, as well as some story developments. All of this was now confirmed during the Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 livestream, which detailed the contents for the upcoming patch.
Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 – Release Date
The Next Update Arrives On September 24
Honkai Star Rail’s Cyrene opens her arms wide.
HoYoverse has confirmed the release date for Version 3.6, which was previously speculated based on the game’s regular six-week schedule and its common release on Wednesdays (Tuesday nights in the United States). Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 will be released on September 24 across all platforms on which the game is available.
With the confirmation, it’s highly unlikely that the update will be postponed in any way. Usually, when a delay is in order, HoYoverse tends to push the respective livestream beyond when it should usually happen. As such, you will soon be able to pre-download some parts of the patch and get ready for the new update in late September.
Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 – Livestream Codes
Redeem Up To 300 Free Stellar Jade
Honkai Star Rail’s Evernight extends her hand, holding a Coreflame.
During the special event, HoYoverse also provided three Version 3.6 livestream codes, all of which can now be redeemed for in-game rewards. With it, you can obtain Credits, Traveler’s Guide, Refined Aether, and 300 Stellar Jade.
The table below lists all three Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 livestream codes and their respective rewards:
Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 Livestream Codes
Rewards
WTK9Z6EMQPEP
100x Stellar Jade & 50,000x Credit
AA39GPEL9NHB
100x Stellar Jade & 5x Traveler’s Guide
PLACEHOLDER
100x Stellar Jade & 4x Refined Aether
You can redeem these codes via the official Honkai: Star Rail website or through the in-game redemption option. After redemption of each of the codes, their respective rewards will be sent to your mailbox, from which they must be claimed.
Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 – New Characters & Banners
Evernight & Permansor Terrae Make Their Debut
Honkai Star Rail’s Dan Heng Permansor Terrae looks toward the viewer, surrounded by a yellow serpent.
One of the central aspects of the livestream was the confirmation of the previously leaked Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 character banners, as well as the details about the new playable units. The Phase 1 banners will be composed of Evernight as well as a The Herta rerun. Evernight is a new 5-star Ice character on the Path of the Remembrance.
Evernight’s kit in Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 allows her to buff allies’ Memosprites CRIT DMG. She is also a specialist in dealing damage herself as an HP-scaler. As such, Evernight can either work as a support and sub-DPS for Remembrance teams or as a main DPS herself. This Phase will also see The Herta’s rerun in the game.
The Herta is arguably one of the best DPS characters in the game. She deals a load of damage that gradually increases based on her targets. She doesn’t have any special synergy with Evernight. Previously, the leaks had reported that Castorice, who would have the best synergy with Evernight, would make her first rerun, though that didn’t prove to be true.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 will be composed of Dan Heng: Permansor Terrae and Anaxa banners. Dan Heng’s new form will be a 5-star Physical character following the Path of the Preservation. Permansor Terrae in Honkai: Star Rail will be a specialist in shielding his allies, while also dealing ATK-scaling DMG.
Permansor Terrae will be capable of using follow-up attacks with his Souldragon. Anaxa will have his first rerun banner in Version 3.6. Anaxa is also a powerful DPS character capable of inflicting new Weaknesses on enemies. Like The Herta with Evernight, Anaxa does not have as much synergy with Permansor Terrae, but they are a good match.
Overall, both Permansor Terrae and Anaxa are more universal characters that can work alongside a larger variety of characters. Meanwhile, Evernight is best when paired with Remembrance DPS characters or used as a hypercarry unit, and The Herta has a very specific type of supporting team comp to have her work.
Honkai: Star Rail 3.6 – Story Updates, Events, & More
The Story Quests Will Connect To The Final Amphoreus Act
Honkai Star Rail’s Cyrene pushes Trailblazer forward.
In terms of story content, Version 3.6 will be a massive update, as it is the one that will serve as a bridge to the final Amphoreus story act in Version 3.7. This update will come with a series of revelations, including more details about Evernight’s full identity, Permansor Terrae’s role as a Chrysos Heir, as well as Cyrene in Honkai: Star Rail as an ally to the Nameless.
Overall, there will be a lot of content to go through in Version 3.6, both in terms of story and events, as well as brand-new gameplay possibilities. Evernight and Permansor Terrae are both exciting additions to the roster, and the rerun banners are great opportunities for you to enhance your options with characters who have proven to be powerful DPS units. It’s one of the best patches in Honkai: Star Rail in some time.
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, who has been locked in a protracted legal battle with HYBE, appeared in person on Thursday (Sept. 11) at the Seoul Central District Court. It was her first court appearance since the dispute began last year. On the witness stand was HYBE’s chief legal officer, Jung Jin-soo.
That day, the court heard two consolidated claims: HYBE’s request to confirm the termination of a shareholder agreement, and Min’s demand for payment under a put option (a contractual right to sell shares back). Positions between the parties remained sharply divided. The hearing revisited long-running flashpoints — allegations that HYBE’s new girl group copied NewJeans, clauses described by Min as “slave-like” non-compete terms, and claims of “forced album releases” targeting NewJeans. Jung questioned Min’s outside activities and possible breaches of contract, while Min countered, calling the narrative “fiction” and accusing the witness of “multiple false statements.” The courtroom confrontation stretched for almost five hours.
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The court plans to question Min again on Nov. 27 and wrap up arguments on Dec. 18, with a ruling expected in January 2026. At the heart of the civil dispute is the validity of a put option estimated at around 26 billion won (approximately $19 million USD). The shareholder agreement reportedly allows Min to sell up to 75% of her ADOR stake to HYBE, based on 13 times the company’s average operating profit over the previous two years. Applying ADOR’s 2022 loss of 4 billion won and 2023 profit of 33.5 billion won, the amount is calculated at roughly 26 billion. HYBE argues that the shareholder agreement was terminated in July 2023, nullifying the option, while Min maintains there was no termination and says she resigned only after exercising the option in November.
Later that afternoon, a separate proceeding was held: the second closed mediation session in ADOR’s lawsuit seeking confirmation of NewJeans’ exclusive contract validity. At the first session on August 14, members Minji and Danielle attended, drawing heavy media attention, but no agreement was reached. The session ended after just 20 minutes without a settlement, and the court scheduled a main ruling for October 30. NewJeans members remain barred from independent activities under a preliminary injunction granted to ADOR.
HYBE and Min Hee-jin’s put-option case is expected to conclude arguments by the end of the year, with a verdict likely in January. The NewJeans-ADOR contract dispute is also nearing resolution, with a decision set for Oct. 30. Nearly a year of intertwined litigation among HYBE, Min Hee-jin, ADOR and NewJeans is heading toward sequential conclusions as the year draws to a close — and the industry is watching closely to see where this saga ultimately lands.
The sequel to Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place returns for a second season with back-to-back episodes, featuring a crowded house of young wizards now that protégée Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) has been joined in the magic trade by Russo brothers Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). While Justin (David Henrie) helps train the young wizards for the Family Wizard Competition, expect guest-star appearances by Selena Gomez (reprising her role as Justin’s sister Alex), What We Do in the Shadows alum Harvey Guillén as Gossip Stone and Criminal Minds‘Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, a member of the Wizard Tribunal. All episodes of Season 2 will begin streaming on Disney+ on October 8.
Disney / Mitch Haaseth
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
The supernatural fun continues on a music-heavy comedy series starring Kenzi Richardson as Vampirina — or as her friends call her, “Vee” — a tween vampire from Transylvania who’s left the crypt to sink her teeth into a performing-arts boarding school. As one does. Living Single‘s Kim Coles costars as the Wilson Hall Academy of the Arts’ Dean Merriweather, with Jiwon Lee as Vee’s perky roommate Sophie and Milo Maharlika as Demi, a 600-year-old ghost sent by Vee’s parents to keep a spectral eye on Vee. The entire season will begin streaming on Disney+ on October 15, with the first single (“Slay”) available today.
Diyah Pera / Netflix
The Wrong Paris
What would Emily Cooper (of Emily in Paris) do? Have a meltdown, most likely. Which is country girl Dawn’s (Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly fame) initial reaction when she signs on as a contestant for the Honey Pot dating show, set in Paris, where she hopes to pursue her art-school dreams. But reality (as in reality TV) sets in when she discovers the show is actually set in Paris, Texas. This being a romcom, you won’t be surprised to learn that the cowboy bootcamp has an upside: the bachelor himself, a hunky hayseed named Trey (Pierson Fodé) who takes a shine to Dawn.
Christopher Barr / USA Network
The Rainmaker
Novice lawyer Rudy (Milo Callaghan) squares off in court on the opposite side of his girlfriend Sarah (Madison Iseman) for a high-stakes evidentiary hearing in a pivotal episode of the legal drama based on John Grisham’s bestseller. Sarah and her new mentor Brad (Wade Briggs) know their jobs at Tinley Britt are on the line, while Rudy keeps trying to prove himself to his boss Bruiser (Lana Parrilla), though he has a risky habit of ignoring all of her advice and warnings. Adding to the anxiety: the results of the bar exam are beginning to come in.
War clouds are forming on several fronts in the penultimate episode of Jason Momoa‘s historical epic set in the pre-unification Hawaiian Islands of the early 1800s. Grieving the slaughter on the beach of hundreds of innocent villagers by European invaders, Ka’iana (Momoa) is losing faith in war chief and future king Kamehameha’s (Kaina Makua) resolve. And there’s another enemy within, with the battle-hungry Keoua (Cliff Curtis) on the rampage.
INSIDE FRIDAY TV:
True Crime Watch: On ABC‘s 20/20 (9/8c), Stephanie Ramos reports on the 2001 murder of Leslie Preer in her suburban Maryland home, which was only solved nearly 25 years later when DNA under her fingerprints finally found a match. On Dateline NBC (10/9c), Keith Morrison reports on the investigation into the 2014 murder in Calgary, Alberta of Shannon Madill Burgess, an aspiring actress and newlywed.
Lost in the Jungle (9/8c, National Geographic): A real-life survival story unfolds in a documentary from Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo, The Rescue) and director Juan Camilo Cruz, recounting the 40-day ordeal of four Indigenous children who are stranded in the Columbian jungle after a 2023 plane crash.
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The California Legislature on Thursday passed a pair of bills to prohibit on-duty law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from masking their faces and to require them to identify themselves.
Senate Bill 627, written by Sens. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley), includes exceptions for SWAT teams and others. The measure was introduced after the Trump administration ordered immigration raids throughout the Los Angeles area earlier this year.
Federal officers in army-green neck gaiters or other face coverings have jumped out of vans and cars to detain individuals across California this summer as part of President Trump’s mass deportation program, prompting a wave of criticism from Democratic leaders.
Representatives for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security defend the face coverings, arguing that identifying officers subjects to them to retaliation and violence.
If supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the law would apply to local and federal officers, but not state officers such as California Highway Patrol officers. Wiener, when asked about that exemption on the Senate floor, declined to elaborate.
Leaders in Los Angeles County are exploring a similar measure to ban masks despite some legal experts’ view that the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal law takes precedence over state law.
The bill’s backers argue that permitting officers to disguise themselves creates scenarios where impostors may stop and detain migrants, which undermines public trust and ultimately hinders legitimate law enforcement operations.
“The idea that in California we would have law enforcement officers running around with ski masks is terrifying,” Wiener said in a brief interview. “It destroys confidence in law enforcement.”
Wiener’s bill allows exceptions for masks, including for undercover officers. Medical coverings are also allowed. .
Senate Bill 805, a measure by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Alhambra) that targets immigration officers who are in plainclothes but don’t identify themselves, also passed the state Legislature on Thursday.
Her bill requires law enforcement officers in plain clothes to display their agency, as well as either a badge number or name, with some exemptions.
Christina Ricci stars in Betsey Johnson’s fall 2025 campaign. Photo: Zoey Grossman / Betsey Johnson
Christina Ricci takes center stage as the face of Betsey Johnson’s Fall 2025 campaign. She channels the label’s fearless mix of drama and play. The actress, long admired for her gothic screen presence, slips into the brand’s extravagant universe with striking ease.
Betsey Johnson Fall 2025 Campaign
The clothing is rich in contrasts, designed to celebrate excess with a sharp edge. A sweeping black dress, trimmed with feathers at the sleeves and hem, feels both glamorous and defiant. A tougher note arrives in a leather jacket layered over a tiered cage skirt. It shows how Johnson’s designs balance attitude with theatrical appeal.
Ricci’s beauty look ties it all together: sleek, pin-straight hair with blunt bangs that sharpen her gaze and amplify the collection’s darker undertones. The campaign’s black-and-white images highlight cascades of tulle and textured layers, including a striking portrait of Ricci standing side by side with Betsey herself.
Accessories are no afterthought, from sparkling embellishments to unexpected props like candy machines and carousel horses. Each touch adds wit and wonder, reminding us of Johnson’s legendary taste for irreverence.
Christina Ricci stars in Betsey Johnson’s fall 2025 campaign. Photo: Zoey Grossman / Betsey Johnson
Christina Ricci takes center stage as the face of Betsey Johnson’s Fall 2025 campaign. She channels the label’s fearless mix of drama and play. The actress, long admired for her gothic screen presence, slips into the brand’s extravagant universe with striking ease.
Betsey Johnson Fall 2025 Campaign
The clothing is rich in contrasts, designed to celebrate excess with a sharp edge. A sweeping black dress, trimmed with feathers at the sleeves and hem, feels both glamorous and defiant. A tougher note arrives in a leather jacket layered over a tiered cage skirt. It shows how Johnson’s designs balance attitude with theatrical appeal.
Ricci’s beauty look ties it all together: sleek, pin-straight hair with blunt bangs that sharpen her gaze and amplify the collection’s darker undertones. The campaign’s black-and-white images highlight cascades of tulle and textured layers, including a striking portrait of Ricci standing side by side with Betsey herself.
Accessories are no afterthought, from sparkling embellishments to unexpected props like candy machines and carousel horses. Each touch adds wit and wonder, reminding us of Johnson’s legendary taste for irreverence.
Scott Adams, the creator of the famous ‘Dilbert’ comic strip, talked about the murder of Charlie Kirk during his ‘Coffee With Scott Adams’ podcast today and suggested that the Democrat party has to be ‘totally dismantled.’
Citing a tweet from conservative activist Mike Cernovich, Adams pointed out that the Democrat party is supported not just by a small group of progressive billionaires, but also by an endless web of non-profits and various NGOs (non-government organizations).
Adams emphasizes the fact that he would not have made these comments just a few days ago, but that he took the murder of Charlie Kirk personally and that Democrats not only spread the rhetoric that led to this, they have actually made it worse in the two days that followed.
Scott Adams: The Democrat Party needs to be ripped out by the roots
@ScottAdamsSays “Two days ago I would have said the healthiest thing for the country is that there are two strong political parties battling it out, in a war of ideas.
But you know who else thought that? Charlie f-in’ Kirk.
He thought that we could talk it out. His whole model was based on polite debate and doing it in public so everybody could see it.
That didn’t work. He got sh-t. So now we just need to destroy the entire Democrat Party.
They haven’t stopped calling [Trump] Hitler. They’re blaming him for the shooting.
It didn’t get better; it got worse.”
Watch the video below:
Scott Adams: The Democrat Party needs to be ripped out by the roots⁰⁰@ScottAdamsSays “Two days ago I would have said the healthiest thing for the country is that there are two strong political parties battling it out, in a war of ideas. But you know who else thought that?… pic.twitter.com/gftStZkR7j
It might seem like a harmless habit to linger on the loo with your phone while “taking care of business”, but research shows that prolonged toilet time can increase the risk of several health problems. Earlier this month the Daily Express revealed how a new study proved that smartphone use while on the loo is linked to a 46 percent increase risk of developing haemorrhoids.
Now Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy at Lancaster University, has produced a full, alarming list of seven health conditions that can be cause by spending too long on the toilet. A healthy toilet trip should only last two to three minutes, yet the study found that 37% of participants who used their phones while on the can spent more than five minutes there.
So here in The Conversation are the seven main health issues you may want to avoid by shortening your stay in the smallest room in the house:
1. Haemorrhoids
“Haemorrhoids are enlarged blood vessels occurring in or around the anal opening. They develop due to increased pressure in the anal cushions – a part of the spongy tissue that surrounds your anus. These cushions allow the anus to expand as faeces is expelled.
“Sitting too long on the toilet places extra pressure on these cushions, leading to haemorrhoids, as does straining to force faeces out.
“It’s estimated that between 50-85% of people worldwide suffer from haemorrhoids. Symptoms include painless bleeding, irritation, itching and discomfort. However, haemorrhoids aren’t always symptomatic. Some people have them without knowing.
“Haemorrhoids can also lead to complications such as anaemia from prolonged bleeding, and strangulation or clotting within the haemorrhoid – both of which cause severe pain.”
2. Anal fissures or tears
“Sitting on the toilet too long can cause anal fissures or tears. They are small cuts in the anal lining. Anal fissures are often accompanied by significant pain – likened to passing broken glass when having a bowel movement, alongside bright red blood.
“The anal lining is thin and sitting on the toilet for too long causes pooling of the blood, which stretches the lining, making it more prone to damage as faeces passes out.”
3. Prolapse
“Faeces may not be the only thing that passes out the body after sitting on the toilet. Extended loo time can increase your risk of having your rectum fall out of your body – a condition known as a rectal prolapse.
“This uncommon condition occurred in one man who would often spend up to 30 minutes on the toilet playing smartphone games. One day, he found nearly 14cm of his rectum protruding out of his body while attempting a bowel movement.
“Prolonged sitting on the toilet increases pressure in the abdomen, which subsequently increases pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles help hold our internal organs, including our rectum, inside. But prolonged pressure can weaken these muscles.
“In women, this could also result in other pelvic organs – such as a uterus – prolapsing out of the body.
“Rectal prolapse is often painful, and you’ll need to visit the hospital if you have one so it can be re-inserted. If it happens repeatedly or if the case is particularly extreme, it will require surgery.”
4. Pressure sores and ulcers
“Prolonged sitting on the loo, particularly in the elderly, may increase the risk of pressure sores occurring on the skin that comes in contact with the toilet seat.
“Prolonged sitting compresses the tissues, reducing blood flow to them. This then results in toxic substances building up in the blood which damage the tissues and cause them to breakdown. Pressure sores are painful.”
5. Hiatal hernia
“Prolonged sitting on the toilet and straining to defecate may contribute to hiatal hernia, particularly in susceptible people (including those who are obese or over the age of 50).
“This is where part of the stomach and other abdominal organs slide through the opening in your diaphragm (a dome-shaped muscle that helps us breathe), ending up in the chest cavity.
“Hiatal hernias are common, affecting 20% of people. They typically result in indigestion, stomach pains and discomfort around the ribs and chest. They can be treated with medication to reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach or in more severe cases require surgery.”
6. Toilet seat neuropathy
“Sitting too long on the toilet compresses the major nerves and blood vessels, reducing blood supply to the legs. This can cause your legs to go numb as a result – a phenomenon known as toilet seat or toilet bowl neuropathy. It usually goes away after a few minutes.
“But there have been some case studies where patients who passed out on the toilet after a night of drinking – subsequently spending the night there – found themselves entirely numb and unable to move. In one extreme case, a man developed gangrene, sepsis and sadly died after falling asleep on the toilet.”
7. Fainting
“Prolonged toilet time combined with straining may also result in fainting.
“This condition, called vasovagal syncope, occurs when prolonged straining on the toilet irritates the vagus nerves. These nerves control many of the body’s automatic functions – including heart rate and blood pressure.
“In the case of defecation syncope, blood pressure can drop suddenly when we stand up from the toilet. Heart rate also drops causing dizziness, light-headedness and fainting.”
The healthy way to poo:
“To reduce your risk of suffering any of these conditions, spend as short a time seated on the loo as possible.
“You could also potentially modify your position when using the loo. Some evidence suggests squatting is better for defecation, as it reduces the stress and straining needed to poo. However, other studies have shown this position could potentially increase risk of other health problems – such as risk of stroke and damage to the achilles tendon.
“Other advice includes eating more fibre and drinking water if you’re someone who regularly takes longer than five minutes to do your business as both can help you have healthier poos. They will also prevent straining while having your bowel movement.”
