Six Gym Health Hazards

My gym is in Dearborn, MI and is frequented by alot of Middle Eastern women. They don't seem to like to wipe off any of the machines nor do they take pleasure in using deoderant. I find long hair and bandaids in the shower all of the time. Terribly gross!!!

ok this is so common sense its not funny. Basically if you use a public gym don't be a hog. And personally I would never use a gym shower ever. Just wait till you get home seriously people have we become so dumb a society that we need someone to write an article that is pretty much a guide on how to not be a slob! I thought that this was a serious article about hidden dangers only to read a bunch of tips on how no to be a totally pig. waste of my time

Most of the stuff mentioned here is unavoidable regardless of whether one goes to a gym or not. The world is not a sterile place. Covering wounds is rational wherever you are. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is nor particularly susceptible to common disinfectants. It can be a sign of a weaker immune system. Ironically, a strong immune system requires exposure to the causative agents. There is such a thing as too clean. The only time I developed athletes foot was when I had not been in a gym for at least a couple of years, and I only ever went barefoot when I was at home in a shower; otherwise, I always wore socks.

Growing up on a farm, I went barefoot almost all the time from the time school let out for summer until I returned in the fall. I developed no foot problems. Now I go barefoot at home, again.

I use to work out 3 days a week - sorry to say I never work out now - but anyway - I never wore anything on my feet in the locker rooms or steam - BIG BIG BIG mistake folks - I got fungus in the toe nails that took years to get rid of - I finally had to take internal meds - not good for the liver - but it was the ONLY way I finally got rid of it. ALWAYS wear something on your feet - and use disinfectant wipes and a clean towel on the equipment - I always used a towel on the floor - I only wish I had used as much common sense on my feet!

I have witnessed some pretty disgusting things in the gym . You should reasearch things such as ringworm ,and staff infection ! I have seen both happen in a local gym ! It's digusting...uneathly people aren't the ones getting infections ...thats Ironic!

LOL...if the people whe are sick would stay home instead of trying to sweat the cold out of themselves and if your healthy and your gym takes care of cleaning the equipment and the people who use the equipment clean up after themselves then it is ok.....maybe you should talk about a public tanning bed....a breeding ground for bacteria.....I would never use a public one...have one of my own

LOL if you are a healthy person and going to the gym daily like myself........and your gym cleans it machines and the people who use them clean up after themselves then you will stay healthy......Maybe the people who are sick with a cold and not feeling well but want to sweat the cold out of their system should STAY HOME!!!! Maybe you should worry about tanning beds.....that is where the bacteria is...the heat and not staying clean....I have my own at home...would not be caught in a public tanning bed

You forgot the most important advice: NEVER TOUCH YOUR FACE. It's simple. If you pick up bacteria on your hands (and inevitably you will) then do not touch any of the three areas where it most easily enters the body: the nose, eyes, and mouth. Don't touch your face until you can wash your hands properly with soap and water. Gym goers should scrap the towel altogether if they want to really protect themselves. It provides too many opportunities for bacteria to enter the body when you keep using it to wipe the face.

You forgot the most important advice: NEVER TOUCH YOUR FACE. It's simple. If you pick up bacteria on your hands (and inevitably you will) then do not touch any of the three areas where it most easily enters the body: the nose, eyes, and mouth. Don't touch your face until you can wash your hands properly with soap and water. Gym goers should scrap the towel altogether if they want to really protect themselves. It provides too many opportunities for bacteria to enter the body when you keep using it to wipe the face.

To All Gym Owners:

The best thing you can do is ensure that your employees are cleaning everything properly all day long. As long as you can show to health inspectors that you are consistently (daily) cleaning your equipment, bathrooms, etc., and you are using the proper cleaning supplies and procedures, you're OK. You've covered your own ass in that respect. So, then, if a member gets sick and tries to point the finger at you, you should start pointing their finger at that member's lifestyle and health. They may have pre-existing conditions or they may have cuts that they have not treated. They may have had only three hours of sleep for the past three days. All these things can greatly contribute to a weakened immune system.

To reiterate... As long as you've done your job, it's up to the member to keep themselves healthy. Germs are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. This article could have easily applied to every damn setting in this world.

the gyms can be dirty

This is crazy

Hey guys how about some locker room courtesy?? (The Spa, Penn. NJ [you know who you are]) there???s no need to be naked for more than a couple seconds while putting on clothes. Use a towel man. What???s up with you guys walking around butt ass naked and having long conversations? And it???s absolutely unnecessary to be nude while you stand in front of the mirror and shave or comb your hair.... have you no shame?? This locker room is so gay.... I???m scared to be in there. And w.t.f.?? who sits on the bench naked?? Balls and ass all on that bench?!! Put a towel down for Christ???s sake.... Better yet please ware one.... it's bad enough i'm a damn germaphobe, now i don???t even want to place my gym bag on those nasty benches.... Pubes and ass marks all over them... you guys are way too comfy with each other...

I have a product with my company which is a long-term biostatic surface protectant which will protect against MRSA, bacteria, e-coli, salmonella...it is epa registered and usda approved. It will offer between 30 days to a year of protection with one application....we put it in hospitals, schools, gyms...to cut down on the spread of touch point based illnesses.

i bet this guy wears pink underwear

Massspec,

The fact is that the cause for a person's staph infection could be any place in this world. The supermarket, the gym, school (especially if you're in the computer lab), any bathroom, etc. Where there's bacteria, you're prone to it, especially if you have an open wound someone on your body that is especially exposed.

The key here is that the very moment your immune system is weakened, you are vulnerable...no matter where you are.

I myself have noticed bumps in my armpits on about three occasions, all after going to the gym. At first, I attritubed this to over-exerting myself, especially if I hadn't gotten enough sleep (for my body). And, the way I am, if I don't get enough sleep, there is no amount of coffee that can perk me up. My original suspicion was correct, but only on the surface. What backs it up is that when my body is in that kind of fatigued state, there's a lot of physical stress that I endure until I am able to get to bed (let's say, after an 8-hr work day). This physical stress does quite a number on my immune system, so I become vulnerable to bacteria.

Needless to say, I have been getting to bed at a more reasonable hour to avoid things like illness, styes, and armpit bumps/boils.

By the way, those bumps I get under my armpit has been confirmed/check out by a doctor and diagnosed as cellulitis. There's the scientific proof. Furthermore, you should actually TALK to a doctor about these things.