During cycling trips, it’s common to experience discomforts such as headaches and colds, especially on long journeys like the Sichuan-Tibet route, where they are almost inevitable. So, what should you do when you encounter these discomforts while cycling? Let’s take a look at how to prevent and treat these common ailments.
    Colds
    Common cold symptoms include: headache, sore throat, dryness and itchiness in the nasal and pharyngeal area, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, soreness in the lower back and limbs, general fatigue, loss of appetite, and sometimes diarrhea and fever. Colds are generally divided into viral and bacterial types.
    Medication: In the early stages of a cold, if symptoms are mild, you can take cold granules, cold capsules, Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Detoxification Pills), or Ling Qiao Jie Du Wan (Antelope Horn and Forsythia Detoxification Pills). For more severe cases, seek medical attention at a hospital or nearby medical facility.
    Diarrhea
    This condition is usually related to unhygienic food during travel. Patients should rest in bed, temporarily stop eating, and drink more vegetable soup and lightly salted boiled water.
    Medication: You can take medications like Atropine, Berberine, or Furazolidone. Be sure to avoid unhygienic food, drink plenty of boiled water, and consume fresh vegetables and fruits.
    Heatstroke
    Heatstroke is generally divided into preheatstroke, mild heatstroke, and severe heatstroke. Its main symptoms include: headache, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, irritability, and in severe cases, spasms, respiratory, and cardiac dysfunction.
    Prevention: When the sun is strong, try to stop and rest in the shade. Avoid traveling under intense sunlight. Bring cycling helmets, cycling glasses, and UV-protective arm sleeves during your ride.
    Treatment: If you unfortunately suffer from heatstroke, apply warm compresses to the head, then gradually switch to cold compresses. If possible, use an ice pack or take a shower. For mild cases, take Ren Dan (Pill of Human), Shi Di Shui (Ten Drops Water), or try methods like scraping therapy. For severe cases, seek hospital care promptly.
    Altitude Sickness
    When cycling the Sichuan-Tibet route, you may encounter altitude sickness. Symptoms mainly include: dizziness, headache, palpitations, shortness of breath. Severe cases may involve loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, abdominal bloating, chest tightness, facial swelling, and slight blue lips. Be alert to precursory symptoms of pulmonary edema and high-altitude coma. In cases of acute oxygen deficiency, inhale some oxygen.
    Prevention: You can use Rhodiola rosea for prevention. Locals also recommend Inosine Oral Liquid + Glucose Oral Liquid, which remains effective even after altitude sickness sets in.
    Trauma
    Trauma is mainly divided into closed injuries (contusions, sprains, etc.) and open injuries (abrasions, puncture wounds, cuts, lacerations, etc.).
    Treatment: For closed contusions and sprains, you can use Yunnan Baiyao spray, apply heat, receive physiotherapy, massage, or take internal or external medications such as bone and muscle injury liniments, medicated wines, powders, or pills. Major open injuries must be treated by a doctor with surgical debridement and full examination. Minor open injuries should first be rinsed with sterile saline (or clean water on-site) to remove foreign objects from the wound, then apply red mercury, cover with sterile gauze, and bandage. For external bleeding or subcutaneous bleeding, use fingers or dressings to apply pressure and bandage to stop the bleeding, and secure with a bandage. Pain can be relieved with medications like Indomethacin or Piroxicam.
    Venomous Snake Bites
    This is generally rare, but if it unfortunately happens, don’t panic. First, check whether it was a venomous snake: if there are two particularly thick and deep fang marks at the top of two rows of tooth marks, it indicates a venomous snake bite; if it’s just a row of fine, zigzag “eight” shaped tooth marks, it means it was a non-venomous snake.
    Treatment: For non-venomous snake bites, no special treatment is needed—just apply red mercury and iodine tincture to the wound and bandage it. If bitten by a venomous snake, quickly tie a band around the limb about 5 cm from the wound, and loosen it every half hour for 1–2 minutes. Also, try to remove the venom from the wound. It’s best to rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% potassium permanganate to neutralize the venom. Clean water, saline, or clean untreated water can also be used. After rinsing, use a disinfected small knife or blade to cut the skin between the two fang marks, then squeeze with your fingers. In emergencies, you can directly suck the wound with your mouth, then spit out the venom and rinse your mouth with water. However, those with cavities, damaged oral mucosa, or cracked lips should not use this method to avoid poisoning. Take medication as soon as possible: orally consume 80–90 pieces of Herba Lobeliae Chinensis, mash it together with Realgar to make a paste and apply it externally, changing it daily. Good snakebite medications include Zhanjiang Snake Medicine, Nantong Snake Medicine, Guangzhou Snake Medicine, and Snakebite Antidote Tablets.

       The above is only personal opinion for reference only.