All the scary news flying around about swine flu got us wondering: Are we safe from these germs at the gym? Never fear, an answer is here, courtesy of infectious disease expert, Mark Wilson, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health: “Risk in a gym should be no greater than in any other group context of similar size and interaction,” he says of the influenza virus (aka: H1N1). “Indeed, it might be less in gyms because people who are feeling ill probably won’t want to exercise and will stay home!” Make your session even safer with a few simple strategies:

Four smart steps to stay germ-free at the gym–no mask required!

A Clean off the equipment: The treadmill panel, elliptical handles, strength machine grips, dumbbells, mats, there’s no shortage of surfaces that someone could have unintentionally infected by sneezing or coughing on it. Prevent picking up those germs by wiping off and squirting any area you’ll touch with one of the disinfectant sprays the gym should have handy on the floor.

Wash hands before, and after, your workout: Viruses like H1N1 are introduced into your body when you rub your eyes, nose or mouth, so keep hands as clean as possible to cut your risk of infection. Scrubbing with liquid soap is best–and temperature doesn’t matter, but time does: rub hands under running water for at least 20 seconds (hum “Happy Birthday” twice if you don’t like counting!). To be extra-safe, tote a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer like Purell to the gym along with your water and use liberally.

Don’t skip the shower: “For many infectious diseases, the one hygienic factor that seems most protective is showering,” adds Wilson’s colleague, Professor Jim Koopman. “Microbes that get on your skin, in many different ways, can get washed off by showers.” Still fret about athlete’s foot? Get over it says Koopman: “You’re more likely to get organisms off your skin that you have picked up in the gym by showering than you are to pick up an organism in the shower.”

Keep your distance in class: “People can be infectious a day or so before showing symptoms, so it can be difficult to tell if they’re ill,” says Wilson. To keep contamination free, remain far enough away from fellow dancers or bootcampers that droplets from a surprise sneeze or cough that they may let loose can’t hit you.

Source (article): SELFMAGAZINE

Source (picture): BLOGS.REUTERS

Germs are everywhere, and the truth is that they’re not entertaining little green cartoons that sound like construction workers from Long Island. The family, friends, and school mates of Alonzo Smith learned that the hard way when the high school footballer died over the weekend from a staph infection known as MRSA. The acronym, which stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a skin infection that commonly resides on the skin or in a person’s nose. It is rarely deadly, but when left untreated can cause serious health issues.

While an investigation is underway, it is unlikely that officials will be able to determine exactly where Smith contracted the infection. Bacteria is not limited to direct contact from an infected individual, but can be contracted off of common surfaces such as counter tops, door knobs, or exercise equipment.

Most MRSA infections can still be treated by antibiotics, but there are steps that can be taken to help prevent someone from contracting the infection to begin with. Always wear clean exercise clothing, and never reuse a towel without washing it. Damp towels are prime spots for germs and infections to gather, especially when left overnight in a locker. Use an antibacterial and antifungal soap like GymSoap when showering to help stop the disease before it develops. You should wash your hands regularly as our hands touch more than any other part of the body, and never share cleaning equipment such as towels, loofahs, or razors.

It’s important to know what to look for if you do run the risk of contracting MRSA or any other staph infection. With MRSA the infection often appears as pustules or boils that are hot, red, swollen, painful or have pus and can be accompanied by a fever. They most often occur at places where there have been cuts or abrasions.

Liberty High School, where Smith was a student, will be holding a ceremony on Friday night during their homecoming football game to honor the senior. His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Assembly of God Church in Lake Wales. Well liked and known for being a good kid, it is certain that Alonzo Smith will be missed among the Kissimmee community that he has been a part of.

As I was stepping off of the beloved ARC trainer at the gym last night, in a thick coat of sweat and (hopefully) having burned off those chocolate chip cookies I ate a few hours before, I pondered just how many people had been on that machine before me that day. Who were they? What was their motivation to sweat on that machine? Did they sweat as much as I did? As these thought poured through my brain, all I could think of was: GymSoap. Sometimes the sights and smells at my favorite gym are just a little too much to handle, but trusty GymSoap helps calm my fears of little microscopic bacteria and fungus from sticking on me left from the sweaty guy on the machine before me. Scenario’s like this are what gave us one of our favorite slogans: Gyms are dirty but you don’t have to be! You can read more about some of the nastiness floating around the gym here. Am I the only one grossed out by accidently touching the sweat from the last person on the workout machine at the gym? Tell us about it….

Hello to all! Welcome to the GymSoap blog. This will be a place where our loyal customers (you are awesome) and visitors can read up on articles and information we find of interest. We will also be having special GIVEAWAYS! Check back frequently. The wonderful and talented staff (our second family) will be frequently adding to the blog also, so you will have a chance to get to know the crew at GymSoap. We look forward to hearing from you.