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September 15, 2009

Toss Out That Old Shower Head

Here's another topic to add to the "Ew, gross" list. Your shower head is a rich and protected environment for the growth of bacteria, specifically Mycobacterium avium (the non-TB kind).

M. avium is responsible for a type of pulmonary disease more prevalent than TB in developed countries, cases of which have risen in parallel with the rise in showering, says Pace.

People who are immune compromised, such as those with AIDS, the elderly, or pregnant women, are at higher risk of contracting Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). MAC is a respiratory infection that causes nonspecific symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, stomach pain and diarrhea.

How to protect yourself: run the water through your shower for about a minute before you step in or you'll get a face full of bacteria. If your shower head is old and crusty, toss that bad-boy out and replace it with a new one. Oh, and you may want to avoid replacing it with a plastic shower head.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the shower . . . (cue music).

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at September 15, 2009 7:15 PM