by Ann Harrison
Although riding roller coasters at theme parks and tourist attractions around the country are fun and exciting, there are several physical and psychological risks you should be aware of. Take these health risks into consideration, the next time you visit a theme park.
Damage to Your Ears
The impact of rapidly increasing speed can cause damage to the human ear, in rare cases. The drastic increase in air pressure that a person experiences while on a thrill ride, can cause pain, from swelling of the ear canal, in one or both ears, as does the increase in air pressure when scuba diving.
How These Rides Affect the Heart
Riding roller coaster can rapidly increase a person’s heart rate. Researchers at the American Heart Association, believe that a person’s heart rate is increased due to psychological stress, caused by fear of the roller coaster. This speeding up of the heart, can also be caused by the G-forces that keep the passengers inside the coaster’s cars or cages. Although younger people don’t normally experience this increase in heart rate, this effect can be very dangerous to people who suffer from heart disease, or who are subject to suffering from a heart attack while riding a roller coaster.
Roller Coasters Can Cause Whiplash
If you’ve ridden a roller coaster before, you’ll notice that these rides have sudden, fast, jerky movements, and these movements can cause a person to suffer from Whiplash. Whiplash is not often noticed for a day or two after the ride has ended, but a person can experience pain in the neck and spine, and decreased movement of the arms.
Other Psychological Effects
The very idea of riding something that goes high up into the air at amazingly fast speeds, is so frightening, that it can cause a person to go into fight-or-flight mode. This means that a person may choose to run away from the ride, instead of boarding it. This psychological effect on the body may cause the person to sweat more that they usually do. The excitement of a scary roller coaster can also cause your sweat glands to work overtime. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the ways a roller coaster ride can affect your health, before you take such an exciting thrill ride.
About the Author
Ann Harrison is a totally blind author, who grew up in the small town of Rochelle, Georgia, and has moved back to her family home after living in North Georgia for several years. Ann has written many articles of general interest for a number of clients since June of 2010, including the Cordele Dispatch. She has also published a short story entitled “The Big Climb” in Awethology Light. Ann also published a story entitled “The Woods” in December Awethology Light Volume by The #Awethors. She is currently working on several novels, and a self-help book. To read more of Ms. Harrison’s inspirational writings, visit her blog at www.wwannwrites.wordpress.com.