Is it safe for me to ride roller coasters and other thrill rides with asthma and anxiety?

Question

I have been on many coasters before. It was not until recently about 2 years ago I had my first panic attack due to anxiety. Last year while visiting Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, I had an anxiety attack and had to go the hospital. The attack happend after riding Fire twice, Ice once and the Hulk 3 times. I was fine once I received medicine from the doctor. My asthama is minor and I have NEVER had an astham attack. I do not take regular meds for anxiety but I am thinking about starting to take meds for it. Basically I want to know if I will be fine to ride coasters and not risk death. I do not understand why I had an anxiety attack at Universal, I was not afraid of the Hulk Coaster and found the coaster to be very fun. I road the coasters with a friend who was fine afterwards.

Answer 1

Anxiety attacks don't always happen because we have a conscious "fearful" thought. Simply the subconscious feeling of being trapped/not in control (especially when strapped in on a rollercoaster) is enough to cause an anxiety attack where your body recieves signals that you are uncomfortable and interprets that as distress and therefore sends you into that panicky feeling.

Anxiety attacks just don't happen to you, you control them by your own fear, and ability to be at peace given your situation. If you start to feel the panic come on, you can stop it by focusing on other thoughts like that you're not trapped, you're having fun, you WANT to be on the rollercoaster etc... If one does happen, although sometimes they're very uncomfortable you can still function completely normal and you are not in danger, because it's just a disruption of your natural senses (rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, slight nausea, sweaty palms) all these things happen when our bodies recieve distress signals like when we're about to get in a fender bender right before the moment of impact or something similar. An anxiety attack is not much different.

I understand your confusion. I always used to scuba dive, and there was no fear, but I had my first panic attack underwater at 70 feet, very rapid breathing/ high heart rate/shortness of breath and everything but was completely fine. I didn't pass out and ascended to the surface with no problem. I've actually hyperventilated before for an hour straight while having an anxiety attack, but didn't pass out. It's just uncomfortable but hyperventilating is not a warning sign that you're going to pass out.

Just stay positive while on the ride and you'll be fine! Keep doing whatever it is that you love, because whether or not an anxiety attack happens and stays is all up to you. If you're vulnerable to an asthma attack, if you can last 3 minutes at most without having your inhaler while having one, then anxiety probably won't turn your asthma into a "dangerous" experience.

Answer 2

well it should be fine just make sure you take a friend and a cell phone just in case.

Answer 3

uh i'd ask a docter

Answer 4

I have asthma and I ride major roller coasters! But, I would have a cellphone just in case.. Also if your asthma is really  bad i would ask a docter..

Answer 5

Ask a licensed medical doctor