Gym germs

Found this on line...... http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/26/health-germs-gym-forbeslife-cx_avd_0128health.html?partner=compuserve How To Avoid Gym Germs Allison Van Dusen, 01.28.08, 1:00 PM ET

When you grab a set of weights, hold the treadmill's handrails or hit the mat to stretch, do you ever stop and think about all of the other gym goers who have done exactly the same thing?

If not, dermatologists say, you should.

While logging a half-hour of circuit training will obviously do your body good, touching equipment that might have been recently handled by another sweaty, sick or infected person could do the opposite. And athlete's foot is just the beginning.

In Pictures: How To Avoid Gym Germs

Experts warn that if you're using a shared yoga mat, for example, you could be at risk for ringworm, which causes red, scaly rings on the skin's surface. Coming into contact with sweat left behind on a machine could lead to a staph infection, usually manifesting in the form of pimples or boils. If not treated properly, it can invade the bloodstream.

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"I don't want people to avoid going to the gym, because it's a healthful activity," says Dr. Joshua Fox, founder of the New York-based practice Advanced Dermatology and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. "But you have to prepare and use common sense."

Rosemary Lavery, a spokeswoman for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) , says the organization isn't aware of any documented cases in which someone has contracted the sometimes deadly staph infection methicillin-resistant staphylo****us aureus from a gym. MRSA is transmitted most frequently by skin-to-skin contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But, to be safe, the nonprofit group aimed at promoting the health club industry recently re-released a list of tips and tactics to help its 5,600 U.S. member clubs prevent staph and MRSA infections. They include providing disinfecting wipes or spray for cleaning equipment, using a bleach solution when laundering club towels and encouraging gym goers to do their part, too.

Rules To Live By If you belong to a gym--and there are 42.7 million of you, according to 2006 IHRSA statistics--adding a few steps to your routine can reduce your risk of catching something.

Start by covering up any open wounds or scrapes with antibiotic ointment and a bandage, says Dr. Kent Aftergut, a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and a clinical instructor of dermatology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. MRSA is thought to spread more easily among athletes who have frequent skin-to-skin contact, entering the body through uncovered abrasions.

You also might want to start bringing your own towels or mat if you're unsure of your gym's cleaning regimen. Some gear companies now offer products specifically designed to fight germs. Harbinger Fitness, for instance, just introduced an antimicrobial mat featuring a unique material that prevents bacterial growth and odor and doesn't wear off, in addition to the already popular FlexFit, a training glove made with antimicrobial mesh.

Once you finish your workout, get out of your hot and sweaty clothes as quickly as possible. They're the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, Aftergut says. If you don't have time for a shower, at least wash your hands or wipe them down with hand gel that you keep in your bag or car.

It's also worth it to keep an eye on your skin. If it's constantly irritated or looks like it might be infected, get it checked out.

"Staph [infections] used to be kind of a rare problem," Aftergut says. "Now we're seeing it in young, healthy people. The average person goes to the gym without any concern for that."

I think that society in general is too concerned about germs.  I don't pay attention to that and it doesn't seem to bother me. I will continue to lick the treadmill.  It builds up an immunity to germs.

I dont' think it's colds and flus that we shoudl be "worried about" but the article points to MSRA (antibiotic resistant staph)  which is now becoming more and more common.   I know in my area, there have been several outbreaks of it in some of the local schools and gyms.   Don't forget this infection is picked up by contact....so if someone has it, uses a piece of equipment, you go on it, and have a small cut, guess what your small cut just became an open door to MSRA.  I don't think we should go crazy and lock ourselves in our homes...but a bit of precaution can save you from a nasty infection.  Scott

What better way to strengthen your immune system? Well, I can think of at least one better.

Reminds me of the old Nautilus(t) Neck Machine. We used to call it the "muff-diving machine":

Just imagine if you turned around facing the opposite direction. It's a four-way neck machine.

But neither dive ever gave me a cold that I can remember!

When I was going to the local YMCA, they required everyone to spray a cleaner on all vinyl parts of equipment you used and wipe it with a paper towel before leaving the apparatus.  This was strictly enforced.  I just thought that was how it was in all facillities.  I guess I was wrong.