Why do roller coasters make me throw up?

Normally the inner ear responds to movement automatically, so we aren't aware that it is working until the movement is too much for our vestibular system to handle. “When that happens, such as riding a roller coaster or even riding in a car or airplane, we experience motion sickness, which are symptoms you describe.



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Motion sickness is a fairly common illness that is caused when some type of travel motion disturbs the inner ear. This disturbance can cause uneasiness, fatigue, nausea, and sometimes even vomiting.

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What to Expect: All symptoms of motion sickness usually go away in 4 hours after stopping the motion. As for the future, people usually don't outgrow motion sickness. Sometimes, it becomes less severe in adults.

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Do eat a small, healthy meal a couple of hours before riding. But don't overeat, and avoid coffee, tea and fruit juices, which increase stomach acidity. Based on the research and medical-professional recommendations, eating a light meal before riding a roller coaster is not a bad idea.

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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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“That continuous cycle over and over again is where a lot of the uneasiness and queasy feels.” Dr. Longley said it's best to not have a completely empty stomach when getting on a coaster. But also avoid eating an enormous meal before getting in line.

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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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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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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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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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Go on coasters that have curving first drops then work your way up to rides with drops straight off the lift, then launch coasters, etc. Roller coasters with big drops that curve on the way down don't have the same pit in your stomach feeling as plunging straight down does. Haven fun!

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Support. Another thing you can do throughout this process and at the moment of actually riding a roller coaster for the first time is to surround yourself with people who can support you. Having friends or family with you can be very reassuring and can help you feel less nervous or worried about facing your fear.

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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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Feel more confident by starting out on smaller roller coasters, and by keeping in mind that roller coasters are safe and are designed to be fun. With these encouraging thoughts in mind, get onto the roller coaster with a friend, get strapped in, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the thrill ride!

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Choose “safe” foods before and after your park visit. You want something in your stomach to keep it settled, so choose bland foods like plain cereal, toast and crackers or scrambled eggs with nothing else in or on them.

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