Autonomic Dysreflexia

• Also known as hyperreflexia, is a state that is unique to patients after spinal cord injury at a T-5 (level of 5th thoacic vertebra) and above
• Can occur when an irritating stimulus is introduced to the body below the level of spinal cord injury, such as an overfull bladder (most common).
• Impulses travel upward until they are blocked by the lesion at the level of injury and cannot reach the brain ->Reflex activated ->increases activity of the sympathetic portion of autonomic nervous system.
• This results in spasms and a narrowing of the blood vessels, which causes a rise in the blood pressure.