This condition is acquired and occurs in 85% of patients with SCIs above T5-T8. It occurs as a result of disruption of normal autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. This is much more common in patients with complete transections of the spinal cord. AHR is a massive sympathetic discharge that is the result of stimulus BELOW the level of injury. Afferent impulses are obstructed at the level of the SCI. As a result, the ANS responds by increasing sympathetic outflow. This causes vasoconstriction and hypertension BELOW the level of the SCI. Hypertension initiates the baroreceptor reflex which causes bradycardia. The ANS responds to the baroreceptor reflex by efferent parasympathetic outflow, which causes vasodilation ABOVE the level of injury. AHR is the result of stimulus BELOW the level of injury. The ANS responds by a massive sympathetic discharge that causes vasoconstriction and hypertension. Hypertension initiates the baroreceptor reflex, which causes bradycardia. The ANS then compensates as a response to the baroreceptor reflex . This compensation is parasympathetic outflow, which because of the injury, only results in compensatory vasodilation ABOVE the level of injury. As a result, you have compensation above the level of injury, and uncompensated hypertension BELOW the level of injury. In summary, the symptoms are: Bradycardia, hypertension, dysrhythmias, cutaneous flushing/vasodilation and sweating ABOVE the SCI, blurred vision, headache, and nasal stuffiness.