Autonomic Dysreflexia

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="75faa5a1dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spinal Cord Injury Info Exchange"><U><IMG SRC="7bf7b4b0.gif" border=0 width="379" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><IMG SRC="553ce240.gif" border=0 width="206" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="787293a0.jpg" border=0 width="41" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                          </FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=350 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="5174ab03.jpg"> <div> <I><B><U>Healthy Living</U></B></I><I><B><U> /</U></B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>Autonomic Dysreflexia</U></B></I></FONT></div> <div>      <A HREF="health.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Healthy Living"><U><IMG SRC="78046200.jpg" border=0 width="70" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spinal Cord Injury Info Exchange"><U><IMG SRC="78146200.jpg" border=0 width="70" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Autonomic Dysreflexia</U></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Introduction</B></I></div> <div> Autonomic dysreflexia can be a medical emergency, which may develop if you have a C-1 through a T-6 compllete spinal cord injury. Autonomic dysreflexia is a nerve reflex that causes the blood vessles to get smaller. This in turn results in a sudden increase in your blood pressure. If this abnormal reaction is not stopped quickly, you may have a heart attack or stroke and could die. The urgent need for treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and your age.</div> <div> <I><B>Signs and Symptoms</B></I></div> <div> It is extremly important to recognize the signs and symptoms of Autonomic dysreflexia. They include:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">High blood pressure (hypertension)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Severe, pounding headache<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Slow heart rate (bradycardia)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Flushing or red splotches of the skin above the level of injury<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Blurred vision or appearance of spots in the visual fields<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Goose bumps above the level of injury<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nasal stuffiness<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Heavy sweating above the level of injury<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Pale skin below the level of injury<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nausea<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Feelings of anxiety</div> <bR> <div> <B>REMEMBER: </B>Symptoms associated with Autonomic dysreflexia will almost always</div> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=40 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="75faa5c1dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="You Are How You Feel"><U>You Are How You Feel</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="disease.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart Disease"><U>Heart Disease</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="care.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Skin Care"><U>Skin Care</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="crap.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ahh Crap"><U>Ahh Crap</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="sex.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sexuality SCI"><U>Sexuality& SCI</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="spazz.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spasticity"><U>Spasticity</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="h2o.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="H2O: Hydration"><U>H2O: Hydration</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="pain.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pain"><U>Pain</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="uti.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="UTIs Intermittent Cathing"><U>UTI's Intermittent Cathing</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="oeg.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG)"><U>Olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG)</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exercise SCI"><U>Exercise & SCI</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="functional neuromuscular stimulation (FN"><U>functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS)</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pressure Sores(stages)"><U>Pressure Sores(stages)</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SCI Deep Vein Thrombosis"><U>SCI & Deep Vein Thrombosis</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><B>Autonomic Dysreflexia</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>