Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury is often triggered by bladder distention. Which sign is commonly observed during an episode?

Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury is often triggered by bladder distention. Which sign is commonly observed during an episode?

• A. Pounding headache
• B. Dizziness
• C. Nausea
• D. Mild thirst

Answer: (A)

Bladder distention can trigger autonomic dysreflexia in people with spinal cord injuries above the mid-thoracic level. The key idea is that a noxious stimulus below the injury causes a massive, unregulated sympathetic discharge, leading to sudden vasoconstriction and a sharp rise in blood pressure. The sign most commonly reported during this episode is a pounding headache, produced by the acute hypertension. The body may respond with bradycardia and localized vasodilation above the injury, and you can see sweating or flushing above the level of injury, but a severe, pounding headache is the classic, most recognizable clue. Dizziness or nausea can occur with autonomic changes, but they are less characteristic, and mild thirst is not typically part of this picture.

Bladder distention can trigger autonomic dysreflexia in people with spinal cord injuries above the mid-thoracic level. The key idea is that a noxious stimulus below the injury causes a massive, unregulated sympathetic discharge, leading to sudden vasoconstriction and a sharp rise in blood pressure. The sign most commonly reported during this episode is a pounding headache, produced by the acute hypertension. The body may respond with bradycardia and localized vasodilation above the injury, and you can see sweating or flushing above the level of injury, but a severe, pounding headache is the classic, most recognizable clue. Dizziness or nausea can occur with autonomic changes, but they are less characteristic, and mild thirst is not typically part of this picture.