Six weeks ago a female patient suffered a T6 spinal cord injury.She then developed a blood pressure of 200/120,a severe headache,blurred vision,and bradycardia.What does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?

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The patient is experiencing autonomic hyperreflexia,which is manifested by paroxysmal hypertension (up to 300 mm Hg,systolic),a pounding headache,blurred vision,sweating above the level of the lesion with flushing of the skin,nasal congestion,nausea,piloerection caused by pilomotor spasm,and bradycardia (30 to 40 beats/min).
The patient in extreme spinal shock experiences paralysis and flaccidity in muscles,absence of sensation,loss of bladder and rectal control,transient drop in blood pressure,and poor venous circulation.
The patient may experience acute anxiety,but the symptoms of elevated blood pressure with severe headache is due to autonomic hyperreflexia.
It is autonomic hyperreflexia,not parasympathetic areflexia,that produces paroxysmal hypertension (up to 300 mm Hg,systolic),a pounding headache,blurred vision,sweating above the level of the lesion with flushing of the skin,nasal congestion,nausea,piloerection caused by pilomotor spasm,and bradycardia (30 to 40 beats/min).

Six Weeks Ago a Female Patient Suffered a T6 Spinal