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What age should you stop riding roller coasters?

“As far as an age limit, though, if you are physically healthy and up for the thrill, there is likely no greater risk for someone who is 60 than there is for someone who is 20.” The largest concern for those who indulge in roller coasters is the after effects.



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There's the nervousness while you wait in line, the excitement as you buckle yourself in and the thrill as come speeding down that first drop. But as you age, you may be wondering if it's even still safe to ride a roller coaster. The short answer is, probably yes.

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People with high blood pressure and/or heart conditions are warned not to ride roller coasters because of the way they tax the cardiovascular system. The adrenaline rush that roller coasters give you causes a rapid spike in your heart rate and blood pressure.

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This difference of a foot can take a few years to get through, but most kids are able to start riding around the age of 4, and most should be tall enough to ride all rides by 8 or 9.

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“As far as an age limit, though, if you are physically healthy and up for the thrill, there is likely no greater risk for someone who is 60 than there is for someone who is 20.” The largest concern for those who indulge in roller coasters is the after effects.

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They may just not enjoy the thrill as much as they did as a kid. “No one is ever too old to ride roller coasters,” amusement park expert and author Pete Trabucco said. “You can ride roller coasters as long as you're physically able to.”

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They may just not enjoy the thrill as much as they did as a kid. “No one is ever too old to ride roller coasters,” amusement park expert and author Pete Trabucco said. “You can ride roller coasters as long as you're physically able to.”

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The truth is that most visits to the amusement park are full of thrills, fun and are statistically quite safe. However, some amusement park rides, and especially roller coasters, are a significant cause of neck and spine injuries. While these injuries don't make the nightly news, they can slow you down.

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First, there are those long walks just to get on the roller coasters, then when you go on the thrill ride they're a good workout for your hearts and lungs. Roller coasters are good for stress relief, fighting phobias, and clearing your sinuses.

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And, experts believe that those at the fear-end of the spectrum often have an underlying fear of either heights, or closed spaces, or vertigo, or simply, even vomiting, that makes roller coasters scary to them.

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Unfortunately, visitors who ride roller coasters can walk away from these rides dizzy, nauseous, and possibly even severely injured. Some riders experience headaches and brain injuries from banging their head backwards or side to side on over the shoulder restraints.

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According to clinical psychologist Judy Kurianski, high tempo rides expose us to “good fear.” Our brains perceive the drops and heart-stopping twists to be “safe” and “predictable,” so riding these thrill rides becomes therapeutic, especially as we scream out our anxieties.

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The larger the mass, the larger the momentum, and the more force you need to change it. Mass does not make a roller coaster go faster but it does make it harder to slow down. This is why amusement parks test roller coasters with dummies filled with water.

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A. Airtime – A favorite term for roller coaster enthusiasts! It's used to describe the feeling created by negative g-forces which gives riders the sensation of floating on a roller coaster. Airtime or negative g-forces are most commonly experienced on a drop or at the crest of hill.

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Usually you are dehydrated or have other issues. Sometimes it's the ride itself but that is very rare. It's more like a symptom that something is wrong than a thing to worry about specifically. Experiencing one or two from time to time on particularly high-g coasters is normal though.

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Bring a Friend. A well-chosen support person can help you slowly work through your fears. A friend can preview each coaster before you ride, letting you know exactly what to expect. Your support person can also provide a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on.

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Begin with a coaster that you are completely comfortable with so that you will have success. Ride that one a few times before stepping up to a slightly scarier version. If your phobia is not severe, you may be able to slowly work up to riding even the biggest and scariest coasters.

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Any rollercoaster worth its salt will have restraints that lock in at point of contact with you. Lap bars will stop in your lap (though if it is a shared bar and the person next to you is bigger, you may have space, but if this is a safety issue the staff will take care of it pre ride.

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Balance is determined by your inner ear struggling to keep you aligned with a level plane so, no, closing your eyes will not assist whenever you're struggling with balance concerns on a roller coaster. Induced vertigo, however, is probably what's causing the most difficulties on a roller coaster.

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Most coasters don't have a posted weight limit but if they do, that would be listed on the sign where the height restrictions are when you get in line. It's more common to see weight limits on water rides like water slides, and some kiddie rides where parents ride with kids.

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