A leading GP and wellness specialist has issued a stark health warning about a simple daily habit that could be putting people at risk of serious stomach upsets, including diarrhoea and vomiting.
The Hidden Danger in Your Gym Bag
Dr Aarthi Sinha, a practising GP, highlights that failing to wash and air your reusable water bottle regularly is a major oversight. She explains that harmful bacteria can build up on the sides of the bottle. "If you don't wash and air your water bottle often enough this can lead to these bugs building up on the side of the bottle and then getting into the water when the bottle is filled up," Dr Sinha cautioned. Consuming this contaminated water is a direct route to gastrointestinal illness.
Her clear advice is to treat your water bottle with the same care as your daily coffee mug. Water bottles should be scrubbed daily. For a deeper clean, she suggests periodically using sterilising tablets, similar to those used for baby's bottles, provided they are compatible with your bottle's material.
Other Critical Gym Hygiene Mistakes to Avoid
Dr Sinha's warning extends beyond water bottles, identifying several other common gym practices that jeopardise health.
Sharing Sweaty Gym Mats: Placing your skin on a mat soaked with another person's sweat exposes you to a host of germs. "Any bodily fluid contains dead skin cells and bugs from our skin and other secretions," Dr Sinha points out. This can lead to the spread of skin infections, spots, coughs, and colds.
Rewearing Workout Gear: Putting on unwashed gym clothing is a recipe for skin trouble. Sweat and shed skin cells transfer to the fabric, and re-wearing them can cause infections like impetigo and thrush. Dr Sinha advises washing kit after every session, turning it inside out, and using a low temperature while avoiding fabric softener to preserve elasticity.
Skipping Equipment Cleaning: Wiping down gym machinery before and after use is non-negotiable. Research by FitRated provides shocking context: gym free weights harbour 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, while treadmills average 74 times more bacteria than a public bathroom tap.
Relying on Swimsuit Dryers: The communal swimsuit dryers found in many gyms may not be as clean as assumed. Studies of similar household appliances found that 20% had E. coli in the drum. "Bodily fluids like sweat, dead skin cells and even saliva transfer from our bodies to our swimsuits and therefore into the dryer. This can then be transmitted on to our swimwear," Dr Sinha warned. E. coli can trigger diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and cystitis.
Prioritise Prevention for Winter Wellness
While regular exercise is crucial for combating numerous long-term health conditions, these findings underscore that post-workout hygiene is equally vital. As we spend more time indoors during colder months, the risk of spreading germs increases. Adopting simple, consistent cleaning habits for your personal kit and being vigilant in shared spaces can significantly reduce your risk of falling ill, allowing you to reap the full benefits of your fitness routine without unwanted side effects.
