Hitting the gym for some exercise and stress relief could put you in a dangerous situation - entering the gym potentially exposes you to a variety of infectious viruses, bacteria and fungi.
Thousands of people can use a single gym on any given day, leaving behind germs that could make you sick.
The germs lurk on weight benches, treadmills and floor mats - just about everywhere.
Scientists call these common surfaces fomites, which harbor harmful microbes that can infect unsuspecting passersby.
John MacKnight, professor of clinical internal medicine and orthopedics, has witnessed first-hand the effects of germs at the gym.
University athletes who use the same training room often experience infection in waves.
"If someone has a stomach flu and they have a little viral contamination on their hands at the gym, it is on the machine for the next person to pick up," Mac-Knight said.
"How long the pathogen can live depends on the type of surface it is on and the moisture and humidity level," Immunology Prof. David Kittlesen said.
It is quite easy for pathogens to contaminate gym equipment - people breathe heavily in the gym and may cough from the physical exertion. This usually is how viruses leave the body and contaminate common surfaces.
Those who show symptoms of being sick may not have the energy to go to the gym, but they still can spread germs easily.
"The peak incubation period is often before the symptoms show up, so people shed viruses all over the place," Mac-Knight said.
The incubation period is the time during which a sick person still is contagious.
"Outbreak occurs before there is time to prevent it," he added.
Most gyms have a cleaning protocol to help maintain sanitary conditions and limit the spread of infection.
The protocol often includes using disinfectant and deodorizing sprays on equipment and mats.
"All of the equipment gets cleaned once a day with disinfectant spray," said Doug Tammen, facility manager at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Tammen admits that this cleaning may not eliminate all germs.
"It is a challenge to clean because of the high volume of people we see each day in the gym," he said.
Sometimes attempts to improve sanitation actually cause more harm than good.
The towels provided to wipe the equipment after each use serve as the perfect breeding ground for microbes, and likely transmit rather than prevent disease.
"Towels help with the yuck factor and are probably more for cosmetic purposes," Kittlesen said.
But pathogens that cause stomach flu and respiratory illnesses are not the only microbes lurking in the gym - bacterial and fungal infections are other hazards.
"The most common infections resulting from the gym are probably skin- related like fungal infections and warts," Kittlesen said.
Ringworm is a common type of fungal skin infection.
"One could get ringworm from a mat but there is no way to prevent that," said Dermatology Prof. Kenneth Greer, who often treats patients with skin infections.
A plantar wart is another type of skin infection usually caused by a virus.
"You can't go out and culture the gym or the floor, but we do pick up wart viruses at athletic activities in the gym," Greer said.
According to Kittlesen, gym-goers are more likely to get skin infections in the winter.
"If you have cuts or cracks in your skin due to cold and dry weather, there is an increased chance of infection," he said.
Despite the potential health hazards of the gym, there are several ways to reduce the overall risk of becoming infected.
People often do not realize that touching their eyes allows pathogens to enter the body, said Kittlesen, who suggests wearing a headband and bringing a clean towel to the gym.
"It also never hurts to wash your hands frequently," he added.
To reduce the risk of all forms of infection, MacKnight recommends wearing clothing that provides maximum coverage.
"If you spend a long time on machines that are frequently used, you may want to go with a long sleeved T-shirt," Mac-Knight said.
Pathogens may pose a risk to using the gym, but fitness-minded people can win the battle by practicing effective hygiene.
Health experts agree that the health benefits associated with going to the gym greatly outweigh the risks, so don't throw in the towel just yet.
"My overall best guess is that in this sort of college environment you are better off going to the gym," Kittlesen said.
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