What are the treatments for the disease?

Autonomic hyperreflexia is a medical emergency. If the blood pressure stays high or continues to go up, a stroke can occur. The good news is that it is easy to treat.

The best treatment is to remove whatever is causing the autonomic hyperreflexia. This means emptying the bladder or bowels and making sure the person is not sitting on bunched-up clothing or a hard object. If the person is lying down, sitting up can help lower the blood pressure. Once the cause is removed, the symptoms improve quickly.

If the cause cannot be found or the problem persists, the person or their caregiver will need to contact emergency medical services right away. Medicines can be used to bring the blood pressure down to normal.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Side effects vary depending on the medicines used to lower the blood pressure but may include allergic reactions.

What happens after treatment for the disease?

Autonomic hyperreflexia goes away quickly once the cause is removed. Remember that the problem can return, so care must always be taken to prevent another episode.

How is the disease monitored?

Usually, the person will notice symptoms as they occur. So they can make sure the problem is quickly taken care of. It's a good idea to notify the doctor when an episode occurs unexpectedly. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the doctor as well.