The nurse is doing discharge teaching with a patient who has a C6 spinal cord injury and their family. A family member asks why autonomic dysreflexia is considered an emergency. What would be the nurse's best answer?
A) "The sudden increase in blood pressure can raise the ICP or rupture a cerebral blood vessel."
B) "The suddenness of the onset of the syndrome tells us the body is struggling to maintain its norm."
C) "Spinal cord patients cannot maintain their neurologic responses and bring their body back to its normal state."
D) "The sudden, severe headache can create enough stress in the body cause problems."
Ans: A
Feedback: The sudden increase in blood pressure may cause a rupture of one or more cerebral blood vessels or lead to increased ICP. Options B, C, and D do not answer the question asked so they are incorrect.
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