Pathalogical response above and below injury

There is message disruption at the site of the spinal cord damage. When the body detects the noxious stimuli, the response causes vasoconstriction below the level of injury and a subsequent hypertensive crisis.

Above the level of injury, the hypertensive crisis in detected in the carotid baroceptors and responds by stimulating vasodilation above the level of spinal cord injury. This can result in a headache, bradycardia, a rash above level of injury and sweating.

Catecholamine released during the autonomic dysreflexia causes the side effects of feeling anxious and chest tightness.