6 Common Gym Germs
6 Common Gym Germs
Finally, the man hogging the leg press for the last hour gets up and proceeds to his next machine but before you whiz over there did you remember to grab the antibacterial wipe?
Never mind he made the nice gesture of wiping the machine off with his towel; although kind he literally just rubbed his bodily secretions into the machine. If that isn’t enough to scare you into wiping your machine with an antibacterial wipe what about the germs that could be lurking in those bodily secretions?
6 Common Gym Germs
- Human Papillomavirus - Also known as HPV, a common sexually transmitted disease. Not something you would think you could bring home from the gym.
- E. Coli - Bacteria often found in stool and intestines.
- Candida - An itchy infection that causes a skin rashes.
- Impetigo - Highly contagious bacterial infection causing sores.
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus (Also known as MRSA) - A type of staph bacteria resistant to numerous antibiotics.
- Jock Itch - A fungal infection, itchy, contagious skin rash.
These germs are not created equal. Some are more serious than others and can vary in infection type:
Fungal Infections
- Candida
- Tinea Capitis
- Tinea Corporis
Viral Infections
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Influenza
- Herpes
Bacterial Infections
- Staphylococcal (Staph)
- MRSA
- Impetigo
While some of these sounds scary enough to wear a full HAZMAT suit to the gym, with a few precautions you can train in peace and save the suit for another day.
- Wash your hands after every workout before leaving the gym
- Avoid touching your face while training
- Wipe down equipment with an antibacterial wipe, Most gyms provide them but you can always keep a spare pack in your gym bag
- Bring flip flops for the shower and walking around in the locker room
- Cover up any open wounds and cuts
- Bring your own water. The water fountain is a powerful breeding ground
- Shower after your workout
Now you can go confidently in earning your gains and feel at ease that you are protecting yourself from the germs that lurk in gym.
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