It’s not hard to find reasons to skip a gym session, particularly when it’s been a long day, your favorite TV show’s on, and the couch feels extra-comfortable. But few of us would list health as a reason not to go. After all, exercising is one of the best things we can do for our physical and emotional well-being. Plus, the subsequent rush of endorphins is a fun reward for our efforts that lasts beyond the workout.
Unfortunately, we take more than just that happy hormonal surge home with us upon leaving the gym. I’m talking about the bacteria and viruses that thrive in warm, moist environments, like the surfaces of exercise equipment, floor mats, and shower stalls. And if we’re not careful during and after our workouts, hitting the gym can weaken health, rather than improve it. There are a number of ailments we can pick up simply by using dumbbells or changing in the locker room.
Colds and Flu
There are tons of germs lurking all over the gym, from the weights machines to the stretching mats. Even if you’re diligent about wiping everything you touch with antiseptic spray or wipes (which you should be), it won’t get rid of everything. A 2006 study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine tested two fitness centers for lingering bacteria and viruses over the course of a week. Every machine was disinfected twice a day and tested before and after. Researchers found that 63 percent of the equipment had traces of rhinoviruses, which are the culprits behind the common cold. Their findings also suggested that the twice-daily cleaning didn’t make a significant impact on the viral presence. With so many viruses flying through the air, thanks to sweat and sneezes (not to mention the amount of people in such close quarters), there’s always some risk of illness.
Fungal Infections and Warts
Fungi are happiest in warm and wet places, which is why fungal skin infections are one of the more prevalent afflictions among gymgoers. The most common is athlete’s foot, which is characterized by cracked, itching, and inflamed skin between the toes. Plantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), pop up on foot soles. Both of these occur when feet come into contact with moist, infected surfaces, such as locker room floors, shower floors, and indoor swimming pools. Skin-to-skin contact with the infected area (or touching something that’s had contact with the area, like socks or towels) can cause infection as well. Athlete’s foot and plantar warts spread easily, and with the former, you’re more likely to get it again once you’ve had it the first time.
Ringworm is a fungal infection like athlete’s foot, except it occurs on the body and displays itself as a red ring of blisters or raised skin. It’s spread via towels, gym equipment, and clothes.
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a particularly scary kind of staph infection because, while many staph infections are treated with antibiotics, MRSA shows resistance to even the strongest antibiotics, making it a “superbug,” that can infect various parts of the body, such as the skin, lungs, urinary tract, and bloodstream. Because MRSA is so difficult to treat, it can prove deadly in some individuals. Its infection rate is also higher among younger generations than other varieties of staph bacteria are. You can get it from direct contact with an infected individual or by touching an object that person has handled, like gym equipment or towels. According to WebMD, one in one hundred people carry the bacteria but don’t necessarily get sick. MRSA starts out looking like a regular staph infection (small red bumps that are warm, painful, and/or pus-filled), but quickly looks worse in a matter of days.
The Keys to Prevention
This doesn’t mean that walking into the gym is a surefire way to catch any of these ailments. You can considerably reduce the likelihood with preventative measures.
