Author: h30b

Being Aware Of Poisonous Snakes While Biking

5019bac6329fa_bikeAs a biker, you need to be aware of all the different types of dangers out there on the trails. Nature in itself can be dangerous and building the necessary knowledge of the outdoors can benefit you extremely well. Some states are more dangerous than others when it comes to dangers like poisonous snakes. States like Florida, are less prone for these encounters though.

Are There Poisonous Snakes In Florida?

Some over 80 million people that visit the “Sunshine State” known as Florida, in any given year, you would think that with such a large number of people involved in everything from swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing, biking, boating or just walking along its 2,276 miles of shoreline, that the attacks from Florida poisonous snakes would be huge.

Statistics And Fatalities

But normally only an average of 120 or so people are bitten a year and usually with only one fatality. So the chances of you and your family encountering and being by bitten by Florida poisonous snakes are very slim. In actuality there are only four Florida poisonous snakes of the known 46 species that can be labeled as “hot” or venomous in the entire state.

If you have ever visited Florida or are planning an outdoor adventure to this great southern paradise, then you may want to discover how to identify the six Florida poisonous snakes as you never know when you can encounter them.

Florida Poisonous Snakes Countdown

  • The Copperhead, Highland Moccasin, Southern Copperhead, or nicknamed the “Chunkhead” can vary in color from red-tans to gold-tans. Most adults are anywhere from 18-36 inches (91 cm). Their most notable characteristic is colored bands on their bodies that appear in “hourglass” shaped. Typically non aggressive, the copperhead will freeze when scared and as such is often stepped on by accident. But the more lethal hatchlings are colored bright sulfur yellow that mellows into a sunny gold as they mature.
  • The Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin normally lives around the waters of lakes, steams or creeks. They have range in color form a dark tan, brown to a nearly black with darker bands across their bodies. The young ones have a yellow tail with much bolder banding. Cottonmouths are not aggressive as some other Florida poisonous snakes but will stand their ground go into attack mode when cornered or provoked.Snake-and-Bike-Wheel
  • Rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snake in the US. They can easily grow to over 6-8 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds. Known world wide for their thick triangle shaped heads and distinctive “hissing rattle” sounds they make with their tails when threatened. But what most people don’t know is that this Florida poisonous snake can accurately strike from a coiled position up to one-third their body length in under a second. There are three species of rattlers found on the Florida poisonous snakes’ hot list: The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, the Timber Rattlesnake and the Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake or Ground Rattler.
  • unlike the other venomous snakes in Florida, poisonous snakes like the Coral snake do not have the large, wedge-shaped heads, nor the “cat-like” eyes or elliptical pupils. Coral snakes with their rounded heads and rounded pupils are often picked up by people who mistake them for their harmless look-alike the king snake. With similar red and yellow colored bands as a king snake, Southern people have long taught their children this little ditty, “If Red touches Yellow, don’t touch that Fellow”

Understanding how to quickly identify Florida’s poisonous snakes can keep a pleasant biking trail or tour in this natural and scenic wonderland from ending in a trip to the hospital. It is always good to know the different dangers out there. Precaution is the main goal.

Looking For Asthma Signs And Symptoms

Asthma is a common disease that kills about 4000 people in the United States every year, but if you are always on the look-out for asthma signs and symptoms, then you will be able to prevent some attacks. There are many signs that can indicate that someone has asthma, and these can range from mild and hardly noticeable to very severe where asthma emergency treatment may be needed. Asthma caused from an allergy often looks like allergies, but you will notice some things that distinguish it. You also get asthma caused by exercise with varying asthma signs and symptoms and taking care of you asthma is important, especially if you are an outdoor person.

Biking and taking on the trails is something to look forward to, but getting an allergy or asthma attack while on the trails or on tour, can make it a “hell on wheels” trip.

The Cause Of Your Allergies

The first thing to take note of is the allergies that could be possibly causing the asthma. When someone starts to get allergic their nose will become stuffy and their eyes might water. They could start sneezing and coughing as well. Now, when this turns into asthma they will start getting a tight chest and feel like they can’t get enough air. Some patients will start to wheeze and gasp for breath. You will also notice that in severe cases their lips and fingernails will turn blue. This means that they are not getting enough oxygen running through their bloodstream.

Preventing Asthma

With most of the asthma signs and symptoms you will realize that they are due to asthma only after it happens. Luckily thanks to the NAEPP, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, there are guides available where people can learn about asthma. The main thing to do when you are diagnosed is to remove the causes of asthma. If your asthma is allergy related then getting rid of your feline or dog might be necessary depending on how severe the asthma attacks are. You will also need to keep your home more than clean to get rid of any dust mites, mold, and other bugs. If it is the outdoors that triggers your allergies or asthma, make sure that you take your medication with you on your trips to prevent you from getting an attack in the middle of nowhere.

Once you have done this you will need to make sure that you keep this clean and that you take any precautions and medications that are prescribed by the doctor. You might be given a bronchodilator and other inhalants as well as beta 2 agonists. There are also plenty of homeopathic remedies that you can use as well as calming programs like yoga which will help to make your symptoms milder.

Symptoms Of Asthma

With most of the asthma signs and symptoms the patient will experience shortness of breath as the most common. Other symptoms that can come into play include chronic coughing, especially at night sounding almost like a throat clearing cough. Sometimes there is no wheezing at all and someone with asthma could be misdiagnosed as someone with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. In this case the patient will be incorrectly diagnosed and given bronchitis treatment instead. There are lots of different types of reasons for shortness of breath, but you should not hesitate to contact a doctor if you or someone else you know is having difficulty breathing. The best treatment plans and diagnosis can be made after some tests are done to make sure you do have asthma.

What Is Bronchial Asthma?

If you have asthma, you will know that there are different types of asthma? This type of accute asthma is a condition that causes the bronchi to close up. This causes irritation and very difficult breathing. Bronchial Asthma is normally associated with allergic reactions to air borne particles and sensitivity to food.

The Cause

bronchial-asthmaThe bronchial asthma as mentioned above is caused by allergens in foods and airborne particles like pollens. It causes the bronchial tubes to close up and this gives you symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. The allergies that cause this type of asthma can be severe and many people report being woken in the middle of the night because they cannot breathe or because they have violent coughing fits. This normally occurs between 2am and 4am and can cause you to suffer from daytime lethargy where you will require frequent catnaps during the day.

Medication Options

Many adults and children can suffer from this type of asthma, but with the various medication options that are available, you can easily manage it and prevent serious asthma attacks that will land you in the hospital. Some people suffer from mild asthma symptoms and some will be more severe. This all depends on the allergens and how allergic a person is, genetic factors, and predisposition to certain allergens.

Talk To Your Doctor

You should go to your doctor as soon as you see symptoms of asthma and think that you might be suffering from allergies as well. You will probably be given a dose of corticosteroids and your doctor will prescribe an inhaler for you to use. This is especially important when you go to places that trigger your asthma or when you feel an attack coming on. You will notice symptoms like shortness of breath and a rapid pulse. You might also start to sweat and your chest will feel tight.

When you ask what is bronchial asthma, you will find out that it is actually the most common form of asthma that there is and both adults and children will suffer from it. According to reports published by the CDC, more than 22 million American’s suffer from asthma, and this includes more than 6.5 million children under the age of 18. Once you understand what causes your asthma and how to go about treating it, you will feel a lot safer and know just what to do when you have an attack no matter where you are.