Around the globe, only 20 cases of stroke due to an amusement park ride have been recorded. Now, a new incident of stroke in a young woman shows an increasing trend of such cases, igniting health scare.
People spin on a ride at an amusement park next to the Alexa shopping mall on December 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Retailers are hoping for a strong Christmas season to help make up for a difficult financial year.
Fast-Spinning Ride Led to a Stroke in a Young Woman
In a case report, titled "Cerebellar Stroke in a Young Adult Following an Amusement Park Ride" published in the journal Cureus, doctors described a 37-year-old healthy woman who experienced right-sided ataxia or loss of muscle coordination and clumsiness after a thrilling ride where she was spun rapidly.
Due to that, her husband rushed her to the hospital where doctors diagnosed her with vertigo, a disorder in which abnormalities with the inner ear or a region of the brain produce dizziness. She was later sent home with an anti-nausea prescription. Her symptoms returned two days later, and she was admitted to the hospital.
Upon checking, the doctors discovered that she had an elevated heart rate and breathing rate, as well as extremely high blood pressure. Her brain CT scan also revealed dead tissue near an artery that supplies blood to the cerebellum, which regulates bodily movements and balance, suggesting she had a stroke.
The team on her case was baffled by its cause although they suspect it might be embolism, which happens when a blood clot blocks the artery. She was prescribed with post-stroke medication to control headaches and reduce heart disease and advised for a follow-up check-up.
A month later, the woman stopped having new symptoms and reported that she had stopped smoking. But even so, her muscle coordination worsened.
A brain MRI scan indicated no signs of another stroke, but a scan of her head and neck six months later detected a bulge in the wall of an artery that supplies the right side of her cerebellum. The artery had not yet ruptured, but specialists felt that it needed to be continuously examined.
They concluded that healthcare providers must be especially cautious in recognizing and managing these instances, and further study on particular risk factors in young people is critical to improve preventative and safety measures in amusement park environments.
How Amusement Park Rides Could Lead to Stroke
Riding roller coasters sometimes leads to serious injuries. This amusement park ride often moves at breakneck speeds, with unexpected twists, turns, and loops. They frequently cease and start unexpectedly.
Most individuals are unhurt by roller coasters, although some people feel moderately queasy or have photopsia, which is the medical name for seeing stars. But the dangers of roller coasters should not be underestimated as others have had it far worse.
Between 1990 and 2010, 92,885 children were treated for injuries sustained while riding a roller coaster. The head and neck were the most often damaged body areas, accounting for 28% of all injuries. These youngsters were, on average, 9 years old, although accidents from roller coasters can occur at any age.
The head and neck are jolted when your body is suddenly jolted, possibly injuring blood vessels in your brain and neck. This can lead to either an ischemic stroke in which a blood clot forms in the artery and may block blood flow or cause a hemorrhagic stroke in which a blood vessel breaks and causes internal bleeding in the brain.
RELATED ARTICLE: 'Death Roller Coaster' Concept Designed With 99.99% Kill Rate for Euphoria Before Death Requires Doctor Approval for Voluntary Euthanasia
Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.
