Published in:
Open Access
01-01-2017 | Original Article
High g-Force Rollercoaster Rides Induce Sinus Tachycardia but No Cardiac Arrhythmias in Healthy Children
Authors:
Guido E. Pieles, Victoria Husk, Teresa Blackwell, Deirdre Wilson, Simon M. Collin, Craig A. Williams, A. Graham Stuart
Published in:
Pediatric Cardiology
|
Issue 1/2017
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Abstract
Theme park operators and medical professionals advise children with heart conditions against using rollercoaster rides, but these recommendations are not evidence-based. The underlying assumption is that the combination of adrenergic stimulation through stress and acceleration might trigger arrhythmias in susceptible individuals. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study to assess heart rate and rhythm in healthy children during commercial rollercoaster rides. Twenty healthy children (9 male) aged 11–15 (mean 13.3 ± 1.4) years underwent continuous heart rate and rhythm monitoring (2-lead ECG) from 5 min before until 10 min after each of 4 high speed (>50 km h−1), high g-force (>4) commercial rollercoaster rides. Total recording time was 13 h 20 min. No arrhythmic events were detected. Resting heart rate was 81 ± 10 b min−1 and increased to 158 ± 20 b·min−1 during rides. The highest mean HR (165 ± 23 b min−1) was observed on the ride with the lowest g-force (4.5 g), but one of the highest speeds (100 km h−1). Anticipatory tachycardia (126 ± 15 b min−1) within 5 min was frequently observed. A 10 min recovery HR (124 ± 17 b min−1) was 56 % greater than resting HR. The speed and g-force experienced on roller coasters induce sinus tachycardia but do not elicit pathological arrhythmias in healthy children.