Hi James,

Saturday November 19 2005, James Bradley writes to Kevin Klement:

 KK>> Not blood, but my heart pounding, yes. My head pounding
 KK>> from automatic disaffect, that spelling wrong, ever
 KK>> hear of that medical condition?

 > That's a new one to me.

 > When I'm forced to deep breath on an urgent basis, part of
 > the cool-down often finds me hearing the blood rush through
 > my head. That is nothing like what you say, I imagine?

Here is the proper spelling and definition of the condition I suffer from
James.

Automatic Dysreflexia (Hyperreflexia)
      OTHER COMPLICATIONS OF SPINAL CORD INJURY: AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
      (HYPERREFLEXIA)


     Autonomic dysreflexia, also known as hyperreflexia, is a state that
is unique to patients after spinal cord injury at a T-5 level and above.
Patients with spinal cord injuries at Thoracic 5 (T-5) level and above are
very susceptible. Patients with spinal cord injuries at Thoracic 6 -
Thoracic 10 (T6-T10) may be susceptible. Patients with Thoracic 10 (T-10)
and below are usually not susceptible. Also, the older the injury the less
likely the person will experience autonomic dysreflexia.
     Autonomic dysreflexia can develop suddenly, and is a possible
emergency situation. If not treated promptly and correctly, it may lead to
seizures, stroke, and even death.
     Autonomic dysreflexia means an over-activity of the Autonomic Nervous
System. It can occur when an irritating stimulus is introduced to the body
below the level of spinal cord injury, such as an overfull bladder. The
stimulus sends nerve impulses to the spinal cord, where they travel upward
until they are blocked by the lesion at the level of injury. Since the
impulses cannot reach the brain, a reflex is activated that increases
activity of the sympathetic portion of autonomic nervous system. This
results in spasms and a narrowing of the blood vessels, which causes a
rise in the blood pressure. Nerve receptors in the heart and blood vessels
detect this rise in blood pressure and send a message to the brain. The
brain sends a message to the heart, causing the heartbeat to slow down and
the blood vessels above the level of injury to dilate. However, the brain
cannot send messages below the level of injury, due to the spinal cord
lesion, and therefore the blood pressure cannot be regulated.


        Gufus

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