History is full of salacious moments, but most of them aren’t likely to make their way to a history class anytime soon. Fortunately, this is the perfect place to highlight naughty but overlooked moments from history.

10The Spanking Squad

Spanking children isn’t the disciplinary measure it used to be. One New Jersey mayor was such a fan that he organized a special spanking squad for young criminal offenders.

Arthur C. Whitaker was mayor of Bridgeton, New Jersey, during the 1910s. He had an automated spanking machine installed at City Hall and sentenced young offenders to it instead of sending them to reformatory schools. Once he passed down sentence, the squad would carry it out. They could regulate the duration and intensity of the spanking based on the harshness of the crime.

According to Whitaker, over 100 boys and a few girls faced the machine during his seven years in office. He labeled the experiment a success, with parents even voluntarily bringing children to him when they misbehaved. Despite this, Whitaker still saw it fit to keep the device a secret while it was in operation.

9The Bawdy House Riots And The Whores Petition

In 17th-century London, Shrove Tuesday riots were common. These occurred during Easter Week as the devout attacked places of ill-repute such as playhouses, taverns, and the like. They were usually let off without severe consequence, but that wasn’t the case in 1668. That year, King Charles II banned conventicles, which caused thousands of dissenters to unleash their fury on brothels. Samuel Pepys recorded the whole thing in his famous diary. That year, the ringleaders were tried for treason and four were drawn and quartered.

In response to the riot, several madams and their workers wrote “The Poor-Whores Petition” and addressed it to Countess of Castlemaine, the king’s mistress. It was a mocking letter that was widely distributed and openly referenced the king’s promiscuous ways as well as those of other high-profile courtesans. The letter ended with a plea to Lady Castlemaine to help her “sisters.”

8Cocaine Tampons

Historically, humans don’t have a stellar record when it comes to treating female-specific ailments. As far back as ancient Greece, vaginal pains were relieved using tampons soaked in opium and belladonna. And while you might expect this to be just another absurd ancient medical practice, similar techniques survived well into the 19th century.

When cocaine began being used as a surgical anesthetic in the mid-1800s, it often came in the form of an antiseptic tampon that was applied to bullet wounds. Toward the end of the century, cocaine was regarded as a valid treatment for gynecological illnesses, so women were prescribed cocaine tampons. Soon enough, cocaine absorbed vaginally became a panacea that could treat a wide range of ailments. These included inflammations, uterine diseases, cervical endometritis, painful childbirth, and even sore nipples.

7Desecration Of Constantinople

The Latin Empire of Constantinople is not well known today because it only lasted for about 50 years. After the Fourth Crusade, many crusaders led by Baldwin of Flanders mutinied against the Byzantine Empire, laid siege on Constantinople, and sacked the city in 1204. Baldwin proclaimed himself Emperor Baldwin I and declared his new Latin Empire as the true descendant of Rome.

The sacking of the city was recorded by Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates. He wrote how the crusaders plundered every religious artifact they found. They stole reliquaries, vessels, and utensils made of precious metals while breaking everything that wasn’t of monetary value. The sacred altar in the Hagia Sophia was broken down into small bits and distributed among the soldiers. Even so, Choniates considered the greatest desecration when the crusaders placed a naked prostitute on the patriarchal throne and had her sing and dance for entertainment.

6Czarina’s Official Foot-Ticklers

A lot has been said over the years about Catherine the Great’s sex life. The most famous myth about her involved the czarina dying while having sex with a horse. While that might not be true, it is true that Catherine had a rich love life with many courtiers. She also appointed official foot-ticklers who would pleasure her by tickling her feet while telling salacious stories or singing songs.

The ticklers were selected from women of aristocratic birth. It was a highly coveted position due to the intimate relationship they built with the czarina. The ticklers might even have been present during some of Catherine’s sexual dalliances and refreshed the czarina between sessions by tickling her feet or giving her a smack on the bottom.

5The Warren Cup

In 1865, the British Museum created the Secretum—a private section of the museum housing all the artifacts deemed obscene in Victorian society. Most of them came from George Witt, a London doctor with an extensive collection of phallic memorabilia. The Secretum soon became off-limits to the average museumgoer as people needed special permission to view the exhibits during a private tour.

During the secret collection’s 100-year existence, there was one object deemed too obscene even for the Secretum—the Warren Cup. It was a silver Roman cup that depicted homosexual sex between two men on one side of the cup and a man with a young boy on the other.

The museum had the opportunity to purchase the Warren Cup in the 1950s for a small sum. It turned it down. The British Museum later changed its mind in 1999 and paid £1.8 million for it, a record purchase for the museum at the time.

4Porta Tosa

For centuries, one of the first things that many people entering Milan saw was a bas-relief of a woman shaving her pubic hair. This carving was placed on the eastern gate of the city named Porta Tosa, later changed to Porta Vittoria. The bas-relief remained there until the 19th century, when the gate was demolished and the obscene carving was moved to a museum.

There are several legends surrounding the origins of the bas-relief, and they all have to do with Holy Roman Emperor and enemy of Milan Frederick Barbarossa. One story says the carving simply portrays Barbarossa’s wife in a shameful position. Another says the bas-relief is of a Milanese woman who exposed herself to Barbarossa’s army in defiance. It is also possible the carving faces east as an insult to the Byzantine Empire for refusing to help Milan after Barbarossa sacked the city in 1162.

3Caesar, Queen Of Bithynia

Julius Caesar is remembered today as one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever seen. In his day, though, he had his fair share of political enemies who took advantage of a rumor to label Caesar “Queen of Bithynia.” Rumor was that Caesar had been the secret lover of Nicomedes IV, king of Bithynia. This would have happened around 80 BC when a young Caesar traveled there as an ambassador to raise a fleet.

While it’s impossible to determine whether the rumor was true or not, Suetonius treated it as fact. He mentioned Caesar’s relationship with King Nicomedes as the only stain on his reputation. He also talked of several instances where it was brought up. A certain Octavius called Pompey “king” and Caesar “queen” during an assembly, and a poem had the line “All the Gauls did Caesar vanquish, Nicomedes vanquished him.”

2Molding Cockle Bread

Cockle bread was, most likely, a type of bread present in England centuries ago. However, “molding cockle bread” was an erotic dance that could be looked at as a primitive form of twerking. According to 17th-century writer John Aubrey, “young wenches” would indulge in this “wanton sport” by getting up on a table, lifting their coats as high as possible, and shaking their buttocks back and forth as if “kneading dough with their arses.” It was also customary for them to sing or recite some rhymes as they were doing it.

The term has appeared in several other works of that time. While nobody gives a colorful description of “molding cockle bread” like Aubrey, they imply it to be something shameful or with sexual connotations. Some consider that “molding cockle bread” was more than just a movement, and the technique was actually used to prepare bread young women would give to their lovers.

1What The Butler Saw

William Dickson is not as well remembered as he should be today given his contributions to early motion pictures. Starting out as an assistant to Thomas Edison, he helped design and built the Kinetoscope, Edison’s motion picture device. Dickson later formed his own company and built the Mutoscope, a rival to Edison’s machine.

The Mutoscope used larger images to improve picture quality and was hand-cranked so viewers could control the speed. In the UK, the device became known as a “What the Butler Saw” machine, named after its most popular film.

What many consider the first peep show in history, “What the Butler Saw” was a softcore porn film where the viewer watched through a keyhole as a woman slowly undressed in her bedroom.

+ Further Reading

The bawdy side of history is seldom talked about so it is always a pleasure to publish lists on the subject. And, for those who are desperate for more, here are some other similar articles from the archives.

10 Bizarre And Kinky Crime Sprees
Top 10 Prominent Prostitutes In History
10 Tales Of Prostitutes In War And Espionage
10 Types Of Prostitutes In History

Telemarketers have to be some of the most hated people on the planet. Nobody wants a sleazy salesperson to bother him at home and try to weasel money out of him over the phone.

It definitely takes a certain kind of person to do such a job because most telemarketers don’t last longer than a month in the profession. A good number of them don’t even make it through the first day.

As you can imagine, people don’t always have the nicest things to say to us when we call. As a telemarketer, I actually managed to survive for a few years. Over those years, I learned a lot of inside information about the profession which I’m happy to share with you.

10 Bizarre Schemes Corporations Have Tried To Get Away With

10 Almost Everything They Say Is Right Out Of A Script

If you’ve ever talked to a telemarketer, you might notice that they don’t talk like an everyday person and that they sound almost like a robot. That’s because they’re probably reading everything they’re saying from a computer screen. They aren’t supposed to stray from the script by even one word.

Most of the time, even their responses to your questions are scripted. If you’ve ever wondered why it might take them a second to answer you, it’s because they’re fumbling to get to the screen with an answer to your question.

To throw off a telemarketer, ask an uncommon question like what they had for lunch. They hate it when people ask such questions. Once you read the script enough times, you eventually memorize every word and can talk without looking at the screen. But it takes lots of reading to get to that point.^[1]

9 You Should Never Take The First Offer They Give You

Most of the time, we have a better deal than the one we’re offering right off the bat. That way, we have a bargaining chip in case you turn us down out of the gate. Sometimes, we offer to “waive fees” to butter people up when those fees don’t even exist. It’s just something we say that sounds good.

For you, it’s best to play it cool even if the offer sounds like a good deal. Act disinterested to see if you can get the price down. It might even be a good idea to turn down the first couple of offers just to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Don’t be a sucker.^[2]

8 They Like Making You Mad

As I said, it takes a special kind of person to be able to withstand the barrage of insults and obscenities hurled at us daily. The individuals who can make it past the first few days have found ways to cope.

After a while, it becomes funny when people freak out and lose their cool. You’d never know it, but while you’re screaming and yelling, we’re probably trying our best not to crack up. Or we’re waving a buddy over to have a listen.

As furious as it might make you, we’re a little too thick-skinned to be bothered by what you have to say. We’ve heard it all. So the best thing to do is just hang up.^[3]

7 They Are Careless With Your Personal Information

Even if you want to buy something from a telemarketer, it probably isn’t a good idea to share your credit card number or any other sensitive information. Most of the time, it will probably work out okay. But if someone really wanted to, they could easily copy down your information and take it home with them.

I didn’t see this happen very often. But there were a few instances where it did happen, so you can never be too careful. Sometimes, it will be a “warm call” where they already have your information on file. In that case, you are probably all right. Just something to keep in mind as you can never be too careful.^[4]

6 They Have To Push Back When You Say You Aren’t Interested

In the industry, we call this a “rebuttal.” We know that almost nothing will make a difference if someone just doesn’t want what we’re selling. But we’re obligated to put up a fight, or we could find ourselves out of a job if we don’t try.

If you ever talk to a telemarketer who seems pushy, just know that he’s only trying to do his job and that he is under a lot of pressure to perform. Management will do everything they can to motivate us to make more sales. If our numbers slip, we will end up out on the street in a heartbeat.

So next time you find yourself talking to one of us, don’t bother to give excuses and explanations for why you don’t want to buy. No matter what you say, we have to push back even if we know it’s a waste of everyone’s time.^[5]

10 Most Annoying Time-Wasters

5 They Have Ways Of Getting Revenge If You Aren’t Nice

We definitely deserve everything you have to say to us. But if you aren’t nice, the unethical among us will find ways to make life difficult for you. Instead of putting you down on the list as “not interested” like we’re supposed to, we might put you down to be called back later the same day just to mess with you.

As someone who worked on the phones and in the quality control department, I’ve seen everything. A lot of times, you’re dealing with someone who has all your personal information at their disposal and not much to lose. So you might want to think twice about being rude.

I’ve seen instances where someone has brazenly charged someone’s credit or debit card for products or services they didn’t want or refused to cancel their service when asked. As tempting as it might be to give a telemarketer a piece of your mind, you might want to consider if it’s really worth the trouble.^[6]

4 Some Will Say Practically Anything To Get A Sale

As I previously mentioned, telemarketers are under a lot of pressure to get sales. Many of us don’t make much of an hourly wage and rely on commissions to make ends meet. On top of that, we usually have a sales quota that we’re required to meet.

If we don’t make that quota, we will be put on a “pip” (performance improvement plan) where we will be coached and closely monitored for a period of time. If we can’t get the numbers up, we will be let go.

Now you know why we are so pushy. Some will do whatever it takes to get sales, including flat-out lying to customers just to get them to buy. Of course, this is against the rules. But our supervisor might look the other way because he’s under a lot of pressure, too. So be careful what you get yourself into, and always read the fine print.^[7]

3 They Are Allowed To Keep Calling You (Kind Of) Even If You Say Not To

In the industry, we have the “DNC list” (aka the “Do Not Call Registry”). We don’t want you to know about this list. To get on it, you must explicitly ask to be put on there. Just saying “don’t call here anymore” isn’t good enough. You have to say the words “do not call list,” or we won’t put you on it.

Even when you ask to be put on the list, we are allowed to keep calling for up to a month. Although we will tell you that it takes time for your name to be removed from the system, that’s most likely a lie.

In fact, asking to be placed on the DNC list isn’t the best way to get the calls to stop. The most effective way is to tell telemarketers that they have the wrong number. They will put you down as such and probably won’t call again.^[8]

2 They Prey On Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are where many of the sales come from. It’s pretty sickening, but it’s like a lion preying on a weak antelope. Seniors are easy to sucker into buying things because they don’t always have their faculties about them or realize what they’re getting into.

Taking advantage of seniors is about as immoral as it gets, but they don’t call telemarketers “sleazeballs” for nothing. If you’re getting up there in age or have a parent or grandparent whom you care about, it might be a good idea to keep this in mind. Always just say no and hang up the phone.

Unfortunately, some people don’t always have your best interests at heart. Remember, you don’t owe them the courtesy of staying on the phone.^[9]

1 Most Of Them Are Breaking The Law And You Can Sue For Compensation

Most people don’t know this, but it’s difficult for telemarketing companies to operate without breaking any laws. Strict laws prohibit telemarketers from using robocalls or autodialers. Yet almost every telemarketing company uses autodialers, including the company I worked for.

Ever notice a long delay before someone comes on the line? Bingo. That means they’re probably using an autodialer.

Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, telemarketers aren’t legally allowed to call you without your express written consent. It’s also illegal to call cell phones.

If anyone breaks these laws, you are entitled to collect from $500 to $1,500 for each unwanted call you receive. This is something they definitely don’t want you to know. Don’t let your rights be violated.^[10]

10 Things We Buy Because Advertisers Convinced Us To

About The Author: I am an aspiring multimillionaire penny stock trader and movie buff whose hobbies include reading mostly nonfiction and occasionally writing articles, essays, and short stories. I have also been known to enjoy a good pizza with pineapple on it when I’m feeling adventurous.

There is some scientific evidence of true psychic abilities. For example, social psychologist Daryl Bem ran experiments with over 1,000 subjects and found that eight of them showed clear-cut evidence of precognition or premonition.

Etzel Cardena, another parapsychology researcher, found that the Ganzfeld procedure provided evidence of true psychic powers as well. With the Ganzfeld procedure, participants sit in soundproof rooms while blindfolded. They are asked to talk about a film clip they’ve never watched. The snippet is either played in another room at the same time or shown to them afterward.

Then another set of people is asked to use the blindfolded partipants’ descriptions to accurately choose the clip from a group of film excerpts. Some people were able to choose the correct film clip based on the psychic’s description.

However, far more evidence shows that many so-called psychics are utter fakes who scheme to make you believe they have unusual powers. Check out these tricks that fake psychics play on you.

Top 10 Psychic Debunkings

10 They Keep You Talking

One of their biggest tricks is to keep you talking. The longer you chatter, the more information you may give to the fake psychic. They can use this to do your reading.

In the end, you will pay more (and not necessarily just financially). This is especially true for phone psychics as their services are often $3.99/minute or more.^[1]

9 They Ask For Personal Information

After most fake psychics talk to you for a while and make you feel comfortable, they will ask for your name, birth date, and address. They claim that this will help them to give you a proper reading.

In reality, fake psychics use this information to spam you with frightening demands like “you’re in danger, call immediately” or “I see that someone has cursed you, you need to call me now!”^[2]

The purpose is to get you to call about the message or physically come to their place of business. Then they try to keep you there for as long as possible. After all, time is money for them. If they were true psychics, they wouldn’t need any information from you at all.

8 Flattery And False Claims

The whole idea with fake psychics is to keep you coming back for more. One way they do this is by using flattery and false claims. The flattery is supposed to make you trust the psychic as a friend.

Once they feel you are comfortable, then they break out the false claims. For example: “You have a very interesting aura. I’d like to do an in-depth advanced reading on you. How does next Tuesday sound?”

If the psychic can keep you coming back and spending more money on “advanced” readings, they’ve successfully scammed you.^[3]

7 Past Lives As Famous People

Fake psychics may also say that you were a famous person—such as Cleopatra, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander the Great, or Helen of Troy—in a past life. Although the idea of having been someone famous in a past life might sound fun and interesting, rarely is such a claim true. Most likely, the psychic in question has told at least 20 other clients the same thing.^[4]

Beware of any psychic claiming that you were an important person in a past life. They are using flattery to keep you on the hook so that they can get more of your money. For the right price, they can help you find out more by regressing you to a past life using hypnosis. They have other ways to exploit this scheme as well.

6 They Make A Claim And Then Wait

A fake psychic will purposely make a generalized claim and then wait. This allows them to read your body language or elicit a response from you that will suggest that they are on the right track. When a psychic says something and then stops speaking while waiting for your response, this should be a red flag to you.^[5]

10 Psychics Who Claim To Communicate With Animals

5 They Give You Information That Might Be True For Anyone

Fake psychics will tell you something that could be true for anyone. For example, they might say, “I see that you’ve suffered a loss recently.”

Most people have experienced some kind of loss, whether it has to do with money, a loved one, a best friend, or a pet. This statement is so vague that it could apply to anyone.^[6]

Fake psychics love to give general and vague information because there’s no way they can lose. This claim could be true for anyone at any time in life, and they are counting on you to take the bait when they use this dirty trick.

4 Positive Claims With Just A Few Negatives

Obviously, it’s in a fake psychic’s best interests to tell you mostly positive information. If it was all bad news, you wouldn’t continue to use their services. However, fake psychics will throw in a few negative claims just to make their reading look genuine.^[7]

For example, they might say, “You recently lost an object that is very important to you.” Again, this could be anything. Maybe a month ago, you lost your car keys or an heirloom diary of an ancestor. The claim is so general that it allows you to mentally plug in anything to make it true. And that’s just what a fake psychic is hoping you will do.

3 They Look You Up Online

Just like everyone else, fake psychics look up people on social media to find out more about them. These days, nearly everyone is online, so finding out personal information about people is not that difficult.^[8]

Many fake psychics look you up online to discover facts that they can use during your reading. So if you’ve been posting on social media about publishing your book, for example, the psychic may say, “I see that you’re going to be a best-selling author.”

The Internet contains a wealth of personal information, and fake psychics use it to do your reading.

2 They Ask You Questions

If someone is a true psychic, they shouldn’t need to quiz you. Instead, they should be able to confidently reveal true information to you.

On the other hand, fake psychics ask a lot of questions. When a new acquaintance does this, you probably don’t think anything about responding with a “yes” or “no” or more information, especially if you’re just getting to know that person.^[9]

Fake psychics use the same technique. They want you to reveal information that they don’t have. If they can get you to give them more information without further thought on your part, they have won. They can then use the information to get more money and time out of you.

1 They Use Props

A real psychic doesn’t need to use “props.” So if you walk into her place of business and she is dressed like a gypsy with lots of bangle bracelets, a scarf on her head, and voluminous skirts, you may have made an appointment with a fake psychic.^[10]

However, these are not the only types of props used by fake psychics. You may see large crystals, books on psychic phenomena and psychic studies, or even natal charts posted on the wall.

Keep in mind, though, that some fake psychics are smart enough to look as normal as possible. After all, they don’t want to scare you away by presenting themselves as stereotypical scam artists. They may just have a table, a couple of chairs, and a deck of tarot cards, for example.

Regardless, props are unnecessary for a true psychic. She should be able to tell you what you need to know without anything other than the power of her mind.

10 Savage Psychic Slayings

About The Author: Regina Paul is an author and artist who lives in Seattle, Washington. Visit her website at https://www.reginapaul.com.

Going to the gym is critical for both mental and physical health. However, as much as it may make you feel good, gyms can be a gross hotbed of disease-causing microbes that negatively impact your health and fitness.

Within the moist *ew* and enclosed environment, millions of bacteria and deadly viruses harbor on weights, yoga mats, and machines. That sweaty butt print on the thigh master is more insidious than you think.

These unfortunate viruses can travel as far and deep as your bones, resulting in a nasty and catastrophic outcome. And you happen upon a dirty gym, your chances of taking some of those viruses home increase.

Let’s take an unfortunate look at the top 10 diseases you can get from a dirty gym.

10 Pink Eye

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/i4wCXOwAdU8?feature=oembed

Also known as conjunctivitis, Pink Eye is an inflammation or irritation of both the inner and the outer eyelid membrane (conjunctiva). The inflammation then makes the whites of your eye turn pink or reddish.

Pink eye’s main symptoms are itchiness, a gritty feeling in your eyes, reddening and itchiness of the eye, and discharge or tearing that forms a crust at night. Anything that involves a “crust” that isn’t food is terrible. This “crust” can prevent the eye from opening after a long night’s sleep.

While it is highly irritating, the infection rarely affects vision. Seek urgent medical care before the condition worsens. For those who use contact lenses, stop using them as soon as the symptoms begin. Contacts will only hold the bacteria and cause more irritation. 

The lesson here? Don’t touch your eyes after touching gym equipment! And wash your hands.

9 Ringworm (Tinea Corporis)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/y-X_fWIGBZQ?feature=oembed

As the name suggests, ringworm is a fungal infection that resembles a scaly circle with red bumps along the periphery or ring-shaped that can occur anywhere on your body. Although it is not actually a worm, ringworm thrives in damp environments. You can get it from shared dirty towels, skin contact, wet gym shower floors, or any other infected shared surfaces.

Unfortunately, ringworm is highly transmissible and can easily spread before an individual experiences any symptoms. Some of the common parts of the skin it affects include thighs, chest, buttocks, and back.

The rash can be literally anywhere on your skin.

Key symptoms are itchiness on the affected area and small circular bumps. If you don’t treat ringworm in its early stages, it can spread to other parts of the body. 

You can avoid the infection by using anti-fungal shampoo to wash up after every session at the gym. Also, it should be a given, don’t share gym towels with other people. Gross.

8 Athletes’ Foot 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/tCksWa8j-IM?feature=oembed

Athletes’ foot is a fungal infection that affects the groin area and feet. Yup, you read correctly, groin.

The fungus triggers a red and itchy rash which may cause the skin to peel or blister. Athlete’s foot is commonly a result of skin-to-skin contact, pools, or wet gym floors, making the gym a hotbed for such infections. Usually, the first sign of an athletes’ foot infection is parched and cracked skin between the toes.

That’s why people suggest you bring a pair of shower sandals if using the locker room to wash up afterward.

While fungi are everywhere, you can easily come into contact with fungal infections at the gym by walking barefoot. Gym goers should avoid putting on sweaty shoes and wearing the same socks every day. I feel like sweaty shoes would be uncomfortable anyway. A gym version of trench foot. These are common breeding places for these types of fungi.

7 Folliculitis/Hot Tub Rush

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/5zH6KoQ__bI?feature=oembed

Folliculitis is a common illness that occurs due to inflamed hair follicles on the body. This results in acne or itchy red bumps around the affected hair follicle. It is caused by staph, fungi, or clogged sweat ducts. 

You can easily pick up the bacteria or fungus at the gym if you share towels, use dirty gym equipment, and in hot tubs and swimming pools that aren’t properly chlorinated.

You can also be your own enemy when it comes to folliculitis. Your own sweat can make you vulnerable to this infection as the pressure from tight-fitting clothes clogs the hair follicles. 

So rinse off after a workout, people! And wipe down your sweaty gym equipment. Humans share many things, but, to bring up the butt sweat again, no one wants your butt sweat!

6 Plantar Warts/ HPV

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/o-TEGAmWtj8?feature=oembed

Plantar warts are a result of human papillomavirus (HPV). They affect the soles of the feet. Plantar warts are bumpy and rough with thick skin with little black or red dots. In most cases, they form a tender-to-touch cluster on the affected feet or hands. Plantar warts can be contracted in gyms by walking barefoot, especially in damp areas, and by using contaminated machines or equipment.

Again, can we get a clap track here? Wipe down your machines!

It may not be noticeable to many people, and some types of HPV may cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It is uncomfortable and you’ll definitely need medical attention. As a gym-goer, prevention is certainly better than the cure. 

5 Herpes

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/IOUnXeqNyMs?feature=oembed

While herpes is not commonly contracted at the gym, it is still possible to pick it up. This virus can result in genital warts or cold sores. Herpes virus typically enters the body through open cuts or wounds that cause blisters on the mouth. In some patients, it is accompanied by cold and flu-like symptoms. 

True, it is mostly a sexually transmitted infection. But it can also spread through sharing saliva with a person infected with oral herpes, utensils, razors, or towels. 

So I guess, don’t gnaw on any gym equipment handles.

Another type of herpes, herpes simplex or HSV-1, is also referred to as mat herpes. Mat herpes is common among athletes who participate in contact sports like wrestling and boxing. Fortunately, it is highly unlikely to pick it from surfaces like the gym equipment or the floors. 

4 Common Cold and Flu

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/BGTsyYQq0xs?feature=oembed

Cold and flu and other respiratory infections are the easiest to spread, especially if people are shamelessly and rudely sneezing and coughing in an enclosed environment. These respiratory illnesses, while mild and less threatening, can develop into serious infections not treated. 

Cold symptoms include sweating, fever and chills, sore throat, cough, headache, congestion, fatigue, and weakness. In some instances, flu is confused with a cold. However, the flu adds a fever.

But as easily as it spreads, it is also easy to prevent. Cover your coughs and sneezes. If you use your hands, wash them. Otherwise, you spread those germs to dumbbells, railings, mats, and machines, among other workout equipment.

On the same note, avoid putting your hands to your eyes, mouth, or nose. Gym instructors should advise clients to skip sessions if they feel unwell or have infections. 

3 Impetigo

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/sfOemMpokdA?feature=oembed

Impetigo, also another highly infectious disease, is caused by staph or streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria result in wounds that can ooze and crust over. Again with the crust.

These bacteria live on anyone’s skin but they usually aren’t harmful. However, an open cut invites them into the body and can make you sick. Most impetigo patients are children who are 2 to 5 years old.

Adults, too, can contract it through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. At the gym, you can contact this infection by touching contaminated machines, floors, or sinks. You can also pick it up from shared items like towels and mats.

While it is the responsibility of gym owners to ensure that common areas, equipment, and tools are sanitized, it is also a personal responsibility to keep yourself safe during workout sessions.

2 Staph

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/28xfEU2RwKs?feature=oembed

One-third of individuals carry some type of staphylococcus on their skin and don’t experience symptoms from it. But once it enters the body, it’s a whole different story.

In most cases, a staph infection looks like a red bump or pus on the skin. It can grow warm when you touch it and swell, causing boils. Chances of contracting staph infection are high if you have open cuts or scratches/sores on your skin, or through sharing personal items like a towel, and exercising on a dirty mat or floor—which we don’t advise you do.

You may also experience fever as the infection spreads into your skin, resulting in pericarditis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Yeah, it can escalate fairly quickly. 

If you do not treat staph, the infected person can develop a type of staph known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is particularly dangerous if it enters the bloodstream. However, it is mostly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and not surface to person. 

Keeping a safe distance, avoiding skin-to-skin contact, and proper hygiene is critical in preventing the spread of this disease.

1 Coronavirus

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/U8r3oTVMtQ0?feature=oembed

Coronavirus (COVID-19), a highly transmittable disease that has ravaged the world since 2019, is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. You can catch COVID from an infected person’s nose and mouth through tiny liquid particles when they sneeze, speak, cough, or breathe. You can also get it after touching contaminated or unsanitized surfaces and workout machines and then touching your mouth, eyes, or nose.

Common symptoms include fever, tiredness, and dry cough. You may also experience fewer common ones such as sore throat, loss of smell and taste, diarrhea, headache, and a rash. In some cases, people who fall ill with COVID-19 may experience only mild symptoms and recover quickly. 

Sanitation, safe distance, masking, and general hygiene are some control measures that can prevent transmission.

For highly contagious infections such as the Coronavirus, make sure you’re going to a spotless gym. Look for sanitizing spray and wipes and do your part — wipe down the machine. Don’t be gross.