What is autonomic dysreflexia, its mechanisms and consequences, and treatments?
Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) refers to increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, associated with profuse sweating, rash, elevated blood pressure, and vasodilation above the injury level. AD usually causes a headache due to vasodilation of brain blood vessels. Heart rate falls and vision may be blurred. Nasal congestion may be present. Between 40-90% of people with spinal cord injury suffer from AD. It is more severe in people with spinal cord injury above T6. AD can be triggered by many potential causes, including bladder distension, urinary tract infection, and manipulation of the bowel and bladder system, pain or irritation, menstruation, labor and delivery, sexual intercourse, temperature changes, constrictive clothing, sunburns, and insect bites. When AD occurs, doctors usually catheterize the bladder to ensure adequate urinary drainage, check for fecal impaction manually using lidocaine jelly as a lubricant, and eliminate all other potential causes of irritation to the b
