What is autonomic dysreflexia?

What is autonomic dysreflexia?

• A. A slow drop in blood pressure
• B. Acute overreaction of the autonomic nervous system, causing severe high blood pressure in individuals with spinal cord injuries at or above T6. Triggered by noxious stimuli below the injury (usually bladder/bowel issues), it causes rapid BP spikes (> 20-40 mmHg), a pounding headache, sweating, and bradycardia, requiring immediate removal of the cause to prevent stroke or death.
• C. A mild fever due to infection
• D. A temporary memory loss

Answer: (B)

Autonomic dysreflexia is an acute autonomic emergency seen in people with spinal cord injuries at or above the T6 level. When a noxious stimulus below the level of injury—most commonly bladder or bowel issues—occurs, the body launches a powerful sympathetic response. This causes widespread vasoconstriction below the injury and a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure. The body may respond with a pounding headache, sweating, and a slower heart rate (bradycardia) as it tries to compensate. Because the surge in blood pressure can be life-threatening, it requires immediate action: quickly identify and remove the trigger (for example, empty the bladder or relieve bowel impaction) and place the patient in an upright position to help lower blood pressure, with further medical treatment if the hypertension persists. This is not a gradual drop in blood pressure like orthostatic hypotension, not a mild fever from infection, and not temporary memory loss, so those options don’t fit the scenario described.

Autonomic dysreflexia is an acute autonomic emergency seen in people with spinal cord injuries at or above the T6 level. When a noxious stimulus below the level of injury—most commonly bladder or bowel issues—occurs, the body launches a powerful sympathetic response. This causes widespread vasoconstriction below the injury and a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure. The body may respond with a pounding headache, sweating, and a slower heart rate (bradycardia) as it tries to compensate. Because the surge in blood pressure can be life-threatening, it requires immediate action: quickly identify and remove the trigger (for example, empty the bladder or relieve bowel impaction) and place the patient in an upright position to help lower blood pressure, with further medical treatment if the hypertension persists.

This is not a gradual drop in blood pressure like orthostatic hypotension, not a mild fever from infection, and not temporary memory loss, so those options don’t fit the scenario described.