The water in spas and hot tubs is more dangerous than it seems. Find out how to protect yourself from the fungi, bacteria and viruses found there.
On the plate, on our clothes or at home, bacteria nests are commonplace. To guard against it, it is good to have them in mind, such as this fashion item very worn in winter, salmonella in food, or even the parts of the body most likely to be forgotten in the shower.
Since antiquity, public baths are common, whether in the sea or in fresh water in Greece, which considered them acts of worship. The Romans had built them on a large scale with state aqueducts, especially for relaxation or their sexual practice.
Today, sales of spas and hot tubs have exploded with the pandemic, but it’s also not uncommon to perform public baths at your city’s spa or gym. It is also made in the context of therapeutic treatments, since they relieve the inflammation of the joints in the event of rheumatism or osteoarthritis. Heat naturally dilates blood vessels, to relax muscles and relieve painful joints. The well-being felt can also be psychological, in particular by sharing the experience with loved ones.
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How to guard against bacteria found in spas?
But as explained by Dispatch from the South, what is on our skin ends up in the hot water when we enter it and begins to swirl around us. In general, we have for example some 100 mg of feces between our buttocks. You therefore breathe in or swallow the viruses, fungi and bacteria of your bathing buddy. Obviously, the rate rises with the number of people, just like that of sweat or urine if a participant relieves himself in the water. All these deposits feed the bacteria.
Spa owners can only change the water about every three months, which increases the proliferation of bacteria. Most are equipped with filters to kill germs. Water is also treated with microbicides for germs (chlorine, bromine, etc.). But these can be toxic and irritate the skin or eyes. So take a shower before and after your visit. in a hot tub.
Also pay attention to body overheating, with water at around 40°, which can cause discomfort, a feeling of weakness and even drowning, especially in pregnant women and children or people with underlying problems. It is advisable not to leave anyone in a spa unattended, and not to stay longer than 15 minutes. Private spas are safer from a microbiological point of view, users of public spas not always respecting the hygiene instructions and the treatment may be unsuitable.
Improper maintenance of public baths can even cause an epidemic. The bacteria concerned are in particular E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or even Legionella pneumoniae. These pathogens can be the cause of diarrhoea, intestinal infections, sepsis, skin infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections… Legionella is often found in the water droplets of the vapor which, if inhaled, can lead to a pneumonia.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control have published recommendations to prevent the risks of infection linked to spas in the face of the phenomenon. Urine and other bodily fluids mixed together creates un chemical called chloramine, which causes eye pain and whose smell, comparable to that of bleach, can indicate poor hygiene. The stronger it is, the more you will be fixated on the presence of germs in the pool or spa. A good indicator then.
Editor for Aufeminin, Charlotte is passionate about French and international cinema, and a reader of good adventures. Curious about everything, she speaks as much about personalities as culture or…