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Gym Germs: Locker Room Lurkers That Can Make You Sick!
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.
- Keep a barrier between you and the gym. That means putting a towel down on gym equipment, never going barefoot in the locker room or shower stalls (wear flip-flops instead), and wiping down the machines before and after use.
- Wash up after working out. If you can’t shower, at least wash your hands before you leave. Throw your clothes and towels in the washer, too.
- Avoid touching your face during a gym session. It transfers germs to your mouth, nose, and eyes, which invites the onset of colds and the flu.
- Make sure any cuts or open wounds are covered up with a clean bandage, unless you’re curious about what MRSA’s like.
- Sweaty feet lead to athlete’s foot, so, after showering, dry your feet thoroughly with a clean towel. If you’re prone to the fungal infection, consider sprinkling antifungal powder in your shoes as a precaution. Change socks routinely if your feet get especially warm, and once you’re done working out, change immediately out of your gym shoes.
- The drinking fountain hosts a plethora of bacteria and viruses, so bring your own bottle of water from home.
Despite all its health hazards, going to the gym and getting your sweat on is still one of the best things you can do for your body. You just have to make sure no one else’s sweat gets on you in the process.
Read more on divinecaroline.comWHAT IS TOENAIL FUNGUS?
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infection underneath the surface of the nail caused by fungi. When the tiny organisms take hold, the nail often becomes darker in color and smells foul. Debris may collect beneath the nail plate, white marks frequently appear on the nail plate, and the infection is capable of spreading to other toenails, the skin, or even the fingernails. If ignored, the infection can spread and possibly impair your ability to work or even walk. The resulting thicker nails are difficult to trim and make walking painful when wearing shoes. Onychomycosis can also be accompanied by a secondary bacterial or yeast infection in or about the nail plate.
Causes
Because it is difficult to avoid contact with microscopic organisms like fungi, the toenails are especially vulnerable around damp areas where you are likely to be walking barefoot, such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers, for example. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to all types of infection, including fungal infection. Those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. Other contributing factors may be a history of athlete's foot and excessive perspiration.
Symptoms
Toenail fungus is often ignored because the infection can be present for years without causing any pain. The disease is characterized by a progressive change in a toenail's quality and color, which is often ugly and embarrassing.
Home Treatment
A daily routine of cleansing over a period of many months may temporarily suppress mild infections. White markings that appear on the surface of the nail can be filed off, followed by the application of an over-the-counter liquid antifungal agent. However, even the best over-the-counter treatments may not prevent a fungal infection from coming back.
When to Visit a Podiatrist
You should visit a podiatrist when you notice any discoloration, thickening, or deformity of your toenails. The earlier you seek professional treatment, the greater your chance at getting your nails to clear.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Treatments may vary, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Your podiatrist can detect a fungal infection early, culture the nail, determine the cause, and form a suitable treatment plan, which may include prescribing topical or oral medication, and debridement (removal of diseased nail matter and debris) of an infected nail.
Newer oral antifungals, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, may be the most effective treatment. They offer a shorter treatment regimen of approximately three months and improved effectiveness. Your podiatrist may also prescribe a topical treatment, which can be an effective treatment modality for fungal nails.
In some cases, surgical treatment may be required. Temporary removal of the infected nail can be performed to permit direct application of a topical antifungal. Permanent removal of a chronically painful nail that has not responded to any other treatment permits the fungal infection to be cured and prevents the return of a deformed nail.
Trying to solve the infection without the qualified help of a podiatrist can lead to more problems. With new technical advances in combination with simple preventive measures, the treatment of this lightly regarded health problem can often be successful.
Prevention
Proper hygiene and regular inspection of the feet and toes are the first lines of defense against fungal nails. Clean and dry feet resist disease.
- Wash your feet with soap and water, remembering to dry thoroughly.
- Wear shower shoes when possible in public areas.
- Change shoes, socks, or hosiery more than once daily.
- Clip toenails straight across so that the nail does not extend beyond the tip of the toe.
- Wear shoes that fit well and are made of materials that breathe.
- Avoid wearing excessively tight hosiery to decrease moisture.
- Wear socks made of synthetic fiber that “wicks” moisture away from your feet faster than cotton or wool socks do.
- Disinfect instruments used to cut nails.
- Disinfect home pedicure tools.
- Don't apply polish to nails suspected of infection (those that are discolored, for example).
Published on APMA Toenail Fungus | Foot Health | Learn About Feet
THE RISK OF COMMUNAL SHOWERS
Plantar warts are an extremely common problem which can be very painful and debilitating. As is often the case with common problems, the knowledge of the disease and its treatments is inversely proportional to the frequency of the disease. Often the lay person knows as much and has as strong an opinion on treatment as the treating physician. In addition, most communities have someone who has the reputation of being able to bewitch warts off. This review will attempt to make some order of myriad facts and suppositions regarding this infection. Hopefully, this will aid the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient with plantar warts.
BACKGROUND
Plantar warts occur most commonly in adolescents and are more prevalent among users of public locker rooms. Previous studies have not differentiated shower rooms from locker rooms as risk factors.
METHODS
The current study examined the prevalence of plantar warts among a group of 146 adolescents who used locker rooms. Subjects ranged in age from 10 to 18 years and were recruited from a public school and a swim club. All subjects used public locker rooms but only those in the swim club used communal showers on a regular basis. All subjects were interviewed by a physician and underwent an examination of the feet.
RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of plantar warts between the shower room users (27%) and those who used only locker rooms (1.25%).
CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that public shower users are at greater risk for plantar warts than are locker room users who do not use communal showers.
PAINFUL WARTS
Cause and Symptoms
Contrary to the old folk tale, you can't get warts from touching a toad. Warts are caused by a virus that enters the body through a break in the skin. The virus grows in warm, moist environments, such as those created in a locker room or in your shoes when your feet perspire and the moisture is trapped. Plantar warts often spread to other areas of the foot, increase in size, and have "babies," resulting in a cluster that resembles a mosaic.
Plantar warts can erupt anywhere on the sole of the foot. They may be difficult to distinguish from calluses. However, you may be able to see tiny black dots on the surface layer of a plantar wart. These are the ends of capillary blood vessels. Calluses have no blood vessels, usually resemble yellow candle wax and are located only over weightbearing areas.
