Originally published December 1 2005
Doctors warn heart patients to stay off rollercoasters
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, Dr. Jurgen Koschyk, a cardiologist at University Hospital in Mannheim, Germany, presented findings that revealed rollercoasters can result in irregular heartbeats in people with heart disease.
A wild roller coaster ride can trigger an irregular heartbeat in some riders, which could lead to death among those with cardiac conditions.
Their presentation coincided with the release of an autopsy report from the Orange County, Fla., medical examiner's office on 4-year-old Daudi Bamuwamye, who died in June after riding "Mission Space," a rocket ship ride at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.
The autopsy revealed the boy had an underlying heart condition that affected his heart's left ventricle, CNN reported.
"This is exactly the type of case I am talking about," said study author Dr. Jurgen Koschyk, a cardiologist at University Hospital in Mannheim, Germany.
"For people with known heart disease or prior history of heart attack, we strongly recommend that they not enter a roller coaster."
Heart rates were recorded before, during and after a roller coaster ride at Expedition GeForce in Holiday Park Hassloch, Germany.
The ride involved a 120-second journey, ascending to 62 meters above the starting point, followed by a free fall and changes in gravity of 6 G in four seconds, with a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour.
Such an increase could cause arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, in some individuals.
In this study, nearly half of the participants had irregular heartbeats or significant sinus arrhythmia after the ride came to a stop.
For young, healthy people, the nerve-jangling ups and downs of a roller coaster is probably no problem.
But people with high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, or other types of heart disease shouldn't take the risk, the study authors stated.
According to CNN, since "Mission Space" opened in 2003, seven people have been taken to a hospital for chest pains, fainting or nausea.
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