By Donna V. Scaglione
So you made your New Year’s resolution to shape up and join a gym. But while pumping iron and working that stair climber is likely making you leaner and stronger, did you know it also could be making you sick?
Research shows that viruses and bacteria can lurk at gyms and health clubs, especially on exercise equipment and shower floors. In fact, a 2006 study from the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that cold viruses lived on 63 percent of the surfaces of equipment at workout facilities examined, and disinfection didn’t kill them all. Dangerous MRSA can also be a threat, although it is most commonly transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While no one wants to be vulnerable to colds or other infections, experts urge gym rats not to throw in the sweaty towel. The benefits of working out far outweigh the risks of picking up a bug. What’s more, there are lots of ways to protect yourself.
Take cover. Cover any wounds or skin abrasions with clean, dry bandages, the CDC advises. This helps prevent MRSA from entering and causing a skin infection. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics.
The most severe and potentially life-threatening cases, such as bloodstream infections, mainly occur in healthcare settings, while those out in the community tend to be less serious skin infections. However, they can spread quickly if left untreated, so experts advise examining your skin for any infections or irritations. A MRSA infection first appears as a pimple or boil that causes redness, pus, and drainage, and is usually seen were the skin has been cut or bruised.
Don’t spare the towel. Bring along two towels — one to wipe your sweaty face and another to wipe down exercise machines. Otherwise, germs from the equipment may gain entry from your towel and into your nose, mouth, or eyes, experts warn. Also, be sure to sit or lie on towel in the steam room, where bacteria love to hang out.
Get clean. Use hand sanitizer after lifting weights or using other equipment with handles. The CDC recommends sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol. You can also use a sanitizer wipe or disinfecting spray before and after using a machine.
Avoid the water fountain. Drinking fountains can be a nasty breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, reports WomensHealthMagazine.com. Instead of sipping from that, tote your own water bottle.
Skip the sharing. Grooming products, like soap and deodorant, harbor germs, so don’t borrow anyone’s and keep yours to yourself. Ditto for sharing yoga mats, which can put you at risk for ringworm, a skin condition that causes red, scaly rings, according to Forbes.com.
Get out of wet clothes. Moist, sweaty clothes can breed germs. Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry them after each use, the CDC advises.
Shower. Soap up immediately after exercising to quickly get rid of germs and reduce their chances of causing infection. Be sure to wear shoes to the shower to help avoid contracting ugly warts and irritating athlete’s foot, and wash between toes thoroughly.
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