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Why am I shaking after a roller coaster?

A roller-coaster can also cause negative G, pushing a passenger upwards out of the seat. The body gets confused by these fluctuations and produces adrenalin, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.



Shaking after a roller coaster is a physical reaction known as an "Adrenaline Dump" or an "Adrenaline Shiver." When you experience the intense drops and high G-forces of a coaster, your body’s "fight or flight" response is triggered, causing the adrenal glands to flood your bloodstream with epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. This increases your heart rate, sharpens your senses, and sends a burst of energy to your muscles to prepare for a perceived threat. Once the ride ends and your brain realizes you are safe, the "emergency" signal stops, but the excess adrenaline is still circulating in your system. The shaking is your body’s way of "burning off" that unused energy and processing the rapid physiological changes. It can also be a result of a sudden drop in blood sugar or the physical strain of "bracing" your muscles against the coaster's forces. Drinking water and taking a few slow, deep breaths will usually help the tremors subside within 10 to 15 minutes.

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High levels of adrenaline can therefore lead to muscles twitching uncontrollably, making us shake. Deep, 'box' breathing (in for a count of 4, hold for 4, out for 4) can help to calm us down again.

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Fear of roller coasters, also known as veloxrotaphobia, is the extreme fear of roller coasters. It can also be informally referred to as coasterphobia. Such a fear is thought to originate from one or more of three factors: childhood trauma, fear of heights, and parental fears that “rub off” on their children.

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The adrenaline rush that roller coasters give you causes a rapid spike in your heart rate and blood pressure. Those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart rhythm disorder (atrial fibrillation) are already at risk for stroke.

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However, the jerky and unpredictable movements of a roller coaster can cause the eye and the ear to send mismatched messages to the brain. For kids, this internal confusion feels exciting. But for adults, who are accustomed to more predictable motion, the outcome is often dizziness, vertigo or motion sickness.

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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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Motion sickness occurs when your brain can't make sense of information sent from your eyes, ears and body. Lots of motion — in a car, airplane, boat, or even an amusement park ride — can make you feel queasy, clammy or sick to your stomach. Some people vomit.

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As people age, they may feel the bumps and drops of a roller coaster more strongly or take longer to recover from dizziness after having been spun at high speeds. They may just not enjoy the thrill as much as they did as a kid.

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Not everyone finds the prospect of roller coasters enjoyable, to begin with — which could lead to the experience of stress not necessarily being positive for them. And just like people produce varying levels of endorphins and dopamine, the amount of cortisol generated can also differ from person to person.

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Air time has a strange effect on your body because your body is not completely solid — it is composed of many parts. When your body is accelerated, each part of your body accelerates individually. The seat pushes on your back, the muscles in your back push on some of your organs and those organs push on other organs.

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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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Risk to Those With Cardiovascular Issues The adrenaline rush that roller coasters give you causes a rapid spike in your heart rate and blood pressure. Those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart rhythm disorder (atrial fibrillation) are already at risk for stroke.

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Roller coasters are good for stress relief, fighting phobias, and clearing your sinuses.

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Burn calories while riding the crazy rides – Though the most you're doing on a roller coaster is sitting and screaming your lungs, you actually do burn calories while on the rides. Some may disagree, but riding roller coasters is an enjoyable way to burn off fat!

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After analyzing acceleration data, it was determined that the front row had the greatest negative acceleration in the z direction and was therefore the “best place” to sit. Most people who enjoy roller coasters have a favorite place to sit when riding, but no quantitative reasons for sitting there.

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