Which of the following is a sign associated with autonomic dysreflexia?

Which of the following is a sign associated with autonomic dysreflexia?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Nosebleed
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Bradycardia

Answer: (D)

Autonomic dysreflexia occurs when a noxious stimulus below a spinal cord injury (often above T6) triggers a massive sympathetic discharge, causing a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The brain tries to counteract this by activating parasympathetic pathways above the injury, which leads to a slowing of the heart rate. That heart-rate response—bradycardia—is a common sign reflecting this reflex balance trying to temper the acute hypertension. So, the bradycardia fits as a recognizable sign of the autonomic dysreflexia process. Hypertension is also a hallmark, but the question highlights the heart-rate response as the characteristic sign among the options. Tachycardia would contradict the typical compensatory response, and nosebleed is not a defining sign of the condition.

Autonomic dysreflexia occurs when a noxious stimulus below a spinal cord injury (often above T6) triggers a massive sympathetic discharge, causing a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The brain tries to counteract this by activating parasympathetic pathways above the injury, which leads to a slowing of the heart rate. That heart-rate response—bradycardia—is a common sign reflecting this reflex balance trying to temper the acute hypertension.

So, the bradycardia fits as a recognizable sign of the autonomic dysreflexia process. Hypertension is also a hallmark, but the question highlights the heart-rate response as the characteristic sign among the options. Tachycardia would contradict the typical compensatory response, and nosebleed is not a defining sign of the condition.