Thrill seeking has always been in my blood.  Since I can remember, it has been no big deal to me to take risks. I look for the highest mountains to climb, the fastest cars to drive, and trying what everyone else tells me I’m crazy to try.  After all, it takes big risks to make big gains, right?  Well, not always as I have found.  As I am about to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of my 29^th birthday, I am amazed at the amount of risk I have taken in my lifetime and have lived to tell about it.  I am, much to my chagrin, mellowing in my midlife!

One area of risk taking that many people engage in is riding thrill rides at theme parks.  I used to be first in line with whomever I was in the company of when we went to Six Flags, Disney, or anywhere else that offered a big, fast roller coaster.  The bigger the faster the better I always thought.  One day a couple of summers ago changed all of that.  I rode the Ninja at Six Flags and when I came off it I thanked God for letting me survive it.  I contemplated opening a kiosk for adjustments right outside the exit gate. My neck hurt for a solid week.  I swore off big, fast roller coasters that day, but never considered their danger any further.  A member of our practice brought to my attention an article about the dangers of roller coasters this month, and I decided to take a closer look.

A recent article written by Paul Ruben for Popular Mechanics magazine stated that since 1987 in the United States there have been 52 deaths on roller coasters and similar thrill rides.  Most of these deaths have been blamed on the G-forces, or inertial forces placed on the body during rapid accelerations such as the ones experienced on roller coasters, that the neck and head undergo.  Tears in arteries have been said to occur, causing bleeding or blood clotting in the brain.  In addition to this, brain shifting has been suspected which has been blamed for causing already weakened blood vessels to leak, resulting also in bleeding and blood clotting in the brain.

Physicians in Japan warn that roller coasters there are also responsible for serious brain injuries.  According to Toshio Fukutake, M.D., of Chiba University School of medicine, “Giant roller coasters are higher and faster than typical roller coasters, and might be more dangerous.”  Four deaths have recently been attributed to subdural hematomas in people who have ridden giant roller coasters there.

The question of whether or not brain injuries are being caused by roller coaster rides has definitely gotten the attention of media and medical researchers, but brain injuries are not the only injuries reported by roller coaster riders.  Michael Freeman, M.D., a trauma epidemiologist at Oregon Health Science University’s school of medicine, states that there are over 10,000 injuries each year that occur to roller coaster riders.  He also states, however, that roller coasters are safe for most people most of the time.  Many people who are not supposed to ride fast risky rides do it anyway, and certainly contribute to the unsafe factors of roller coasters.

Industry safety experts have forced amusement companies to post warning signs to people who have weak backs or necks, pregnant women, people with heart conditions, and other potential at-risk riders, but they cannot assure that these people will not join in the thrill seeking for a quick rush of adrenaline.  The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions states that, based on government data, over 99 percent of guests who ride roller coasters do so safely.  The number of rides taken annually versus the number of incidents which result in injury is miniscule according to industry experts.  (That is, of course, unless you are one of the unlucky ones.)

There is no perfectly safe rule of thumb for gauging the risk factor involved in any particular theme park ride.  Common sense is probably the only thing riders have going for them.  A roller coaster has safety equipment there for a reason – to be used.  Keep hands on bars rather than up in the air, use the headrest for resting your head.  Press your head against it when the ride is taking off and engaging in jerky motions.  That precaution alone will help you to avoid whiplash.  If you have any current medical conditions that you know should keep you off a fast, jerky ride, don’t go on it.  Taking risks for a quick surge of adrenaline might be temporary fun, but for goodness’ sake, be careful and use common sense.  They say that the alphabet is certainly hard to learn the second time around.  Treat your body well.