# How safe are gyms from germs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729 "2015-01-02T00:07:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/1 "2015-01-02T00:07:55Z")
I’ve been going to my gym for like 14 years. I haven’t been sick at all during this time --well not sick enough to see a doctor, haven’t missed work, but may have had the occasional sore throat or runny nose – but, I digress… My co-worker buddy joined my gym with his wife like almost a year ago. Now, he’s saying that he thinks he will be quitting because his wife has a weak immune system (she has IVIG treatments). She is sick now with pneumonia, but she also works as a counselor at the local junior college. She wants to lessen her exposure to public places. My thinking is if she’s out in public anyway at the school what’s the difference with going to the gym? Are gyms really that unhealthy? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/2 "2015-01-02T00:24:35Z")
No. Gyms are not unhealthy. No more than any other public space. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/3 "2015-01-02T00:45:46Z")
the germs won’t bother the gyms. people exhale more and deeper at a gym. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/4 "2015-01-02T02:41:22Z")
I may have caught a cold from my gym two weeks ago-rode my stationary bike, woke up with the usual symptoms. But I could have caught it from somewhere else of course… ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/5 "2015-01-02T12:49:39Z")
Shouldnt be a problem if you wipe off the areas where your hands touch. But then I’ll admit that while I do that with machines, I dont for free weights and dumbbells. I dont think its any worse than the mall. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/6 "2015-01-02T13:55:47Z")
Does the gym have wipes easily available? People usually wipe machines and stuff after using them because it’s courteous. She could easily wipe before she uses them. I’m confused though-is she the one going to the gym or is he? ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/7 "2015-01-02T15:51:18Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > the germs won’t bother the gyms. > > people exhale more and deeper at a gym. I’m not sure I follow… If one is sick (or healthy) and is deeply inhaling/exhaling, isn’t he putting more germs in the area (or taking more in)? ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-are-gyms-from-germs/708729/8 "2015-01-02T15:52:59Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I’m confused though-is she the one going to the gym or is he? Sorry I wasn’t clear: if my friend’s wife doesn’t go, then he is will cancel as well. Weak sauce, I know…