Autonomic Dysreflexia — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Injury ≥T6: severe HTN + headache
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Physiological Adaptation
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Autonomic Dysreflexia on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- SCI at/above T6 → reflex storm
- Noxious stimulus below injury
- Trigger: full bladder #1 cause
- Sudden severe HTN, pounding HA
- Bradycardia, flushing above injury
- Sweating, nasal congestion
- Sit patient UP FIRST
- Find/remove cause: kink, stool
- Check catheter, antihypertensive
- Untreated → stroke, seizure, death
- Medical EMERGENCY
✨Quick Tip
Occurs in spinal cord injuries at or above T6 from a stimulus below the injury level.
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