How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

jack12153 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:54:49 GMT

I thought the article was good, but personally have found the combination of standard flip flops, soapy water, and/or shampoo too dangerously slippery. Thousands of people slip, and injure themselves in the shower, annually. Older people, or those with osteoporosis are particularly at risk. Rubber, or plastic sandals may be safer.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

RodiKenley — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:23:49 GMT

I know that germs or bacteria are both important and dangerous. A lot like free radicals. Now and then, they're okay. If only we knew like what doctors use for germ protection, shouldn't we all wear stuff that's germ protective and SPF protective, and maybe even organic?? Sure, if we're around a group of people, it's real easy to get germy, then they get on whatever we touch, especially metal, at times, wood, sometimes plastic, most papers, and of course: your face and ears. Calves too. No wonder we're prone to acne, rashes, arthritis and more. And how many people do you know that: after getting sick and during then, get their sleep and take a good amount of Vitamin D and Zinc Gluconate? I assure you: not many. Even an Ester Vitamin C with bioflavanoids and a Selenium and/or Milk Thistle for a change? Most people would have no idea what we were talking about, wouldn't care, and would look at you with a strange face. Even most of the ones that know or have heard of it, have already forgotten within 4-11 hours time. Almost nobody knows about Acerola, Astragulus or Turmeric either. And almost no one knows about zeolite. Sure, some of these aren't directly related to going to the gym, but they'd almost all help your health real well, and if people did do these things and knew Purel wasn't as good as it says or knew Germ X was better, this page probably wouldn't be up today.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

Heather Marsh — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:45:43 GMT

I do not go to the gym, but since watching The Simoncini clip on you tube I have taken to using a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water as a 'cream cleanser' in the bathroom. It may not kill off all germs - but I expect any moulds present in this damp environment to not survive the bicarb.

Thank you Dr Simoncini.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

charmus — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:37:52 GMT

If many people would keep a reasonable amount of hygiene, i.e. wash hands after restrooms and before dealing with food, cleaning up after themselves anywhere, walking in clean clothes, the world would be less germophobic. I think it's the negligence and laziness in reasonable hygiene of many people that cause other people to have fear of germs. Most germs actually do not cause disease (unless they are dangerous pathogens), it's more enervation and stress and of course weak immune system and the toxins we eat that all causes disease more than germs. However, poor hygiene will also cause disease. So we have to walk the golden middle way here. Not exaggerate in any direction. Yes, do not live in disinfection, but please wash your hands when necessary, especially after restroom and before handling food.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

EddieSong — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:01:28 GMT

I have had two years of trouble from gym equipment. Being in a rehab hospital after a car wreck, I got tired of trying to keep my hair washed so I had it cut extremely short. So the skin on my scalp was exposed and later when I used certain pieces of equipment I picked up bacteria on the back of my head. I have not been able to completely get rid of the folliculitis since then. Be sure to use the disinfectant sprays they usually provide to clean the equipment and bring your own towel to put under your head.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

Pat 444 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:52:35 GMT

I am also concerned about the lack of clean air with a good percentage of Ovygen, that our brain and heart cells need a lot. You know that these cells are the most sensitive to a lack of ovygen.

You cannot open windows in Canada, even in the Gym, as the inside heating energy in winter is lost through the windows, or the air conditioning air is also lost through the same windows in summer.

If you don't breathe clean air during your exercise, and your heart cells lack oxygen, especially when many people are using the same hall, and exhaling a lot of CO2 while exercising, that means you are harming and damaging your heart, and consequently your brain cells.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

skip smyth — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:34:25 GMT

Thjnk homeless shelters. Is MRSA running rampant in these establishments ? I have seen nothing published.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

KalikoKat — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:26:13 GMT

Be sure your body is alkaline and not acidic.

An acidic environment is where every known germ, virus, fungus, bacteria, bug, (you name it), thrives.

A strong and healthy immune system is usually from an alkaline body.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES (raw is the best) and stay away from processed foods and refined sugars.

If you were to come in contact with something, it won't stand a chance in affecting you.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

Dulu — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:45:20 GMT

apparently the information of mrsa has not gotten through to a lot of people. there is a current series in the Seattle Times newspaper about the mrsa epidemic going on in this country and how the majority of the hospitals are covering it up or ignoring it. the cdc has determined based on what information that is being given that the mrsa epidemic has surpassed aids and hiv for the number of deaths in this country. given that mrsa is transmittable through the air and even the slighest contact i for one will continue to wipe down exercise equipment at my gym for the most obvious reason that 99% of the people are just to lazy to wipe down after using a piece of equipment. i have witnessed this time after time. needless to say if this makes me a paranoid then so be it. better safe than sorry.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

Sapphire628 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:31:21 GMT

At the gym I go to, they provide spray bottles of some kind of disinfectant, and encourage us to spray down the equipment when we use it. I don't think this is the best approach. Firstly, for me personally, whenever the spray gets too close to me, my airways start to constrict, and I have difficulty breathing. Conversely, a little organic sweat hasn't ever hurt me. I am recovering from months of chemotherapy, so my immune system is very sensitive to harm. I think that spray is way more harmful than helpful, and really, any germs in the gym are more likely in the bathrooms, on the doorknobs, and so forth.

It would make much more sense to me to have the staff clean the equipment once daily. We are altogether too clean-phobic.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

couch cases — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:14:25 GMT

Great article!

By the way, the latest episode of the comedy series Couch Cases has a character who ends up getting sick because of germs at the gym, check it out:

www.couchcases.com/index.html

<a href="www.couchcases.com/index.html">Couch Cases</a>

Funny timing, huh?

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

Krispy Poodle — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:43:30 GMT

I applaud Dr. Mercola for publishing the articles that are in our local newspaper supposedly educating the naive, uninformed public and also his attempt to re-educate with the facts. Thank-you.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

curious7 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:42:21 GMT

I attend my local YMCA, and I make sure that I do not use the showers there, and I watch as my fellow members in some cases refue to use the materials provided to clean up behind one's self. I spray before and after each use.

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

health bug — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:19:16 GMT

I don't stress - I just spray strong acid water from a machine I purchased from "healthywaterdoctor.com" - it kills ecoli & staph within 30 seconds of contact. I just take a spray bottle to the gym and spray before each use. Amazing that water can kill MRSA. I have seen the photos and they are amazing! Have a healthy day!

re: How to Avoid Infections at the Gym

FunRun — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:44:25 GMT

There have been several stories posted here recently about germs. Doorknobs and germs. Television remotes and germs. Hand washing and germs. Now we have health clubs and germs.

Germs (bacteria and viruses) cause humans many problems. But, like most elements of life, good or bad, we have a symbiotic relationship with them. Our bodies naturally find a balance between the good and the bad.

When we go to extremes by eliminating germs from our personal environments we cause new unintended problems.

Early in life the immune system begins to grow like a muscle. If we do not exercise it, it does not grow.   No germs, no exercise. Unless, of course, you pump your children full of vaccinations.

In the 50s polio spread rapidly through a unique population in the U.S.. The children of the wealthy (think FDR) who kept clean homes with good sanitation were stricken at far greater rates than those whose children played in the mud.   The germ-phobic never developed a natural immunity and suffered more sever forms of the disease.

And worse, all of the products designed to kill germs create super-bugs. Antibacterials kill regular germs and cause competing, resistant strains to grow and morph into new diseases altogether.

So, ignore these germ phobic messages and go play in the mud.

A good NY Times article: http://tinyurl.com/64uznz