Which of the following describes autonomic dysreflexia?

Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency often seen in individuals with spinal cord injuries, particularly those with injuries at or above the T6 level. It is characterized primarily by a sudden onset of excessively high blood pressure, which can lead to a hypertensive crisis. Alongside this increase in blood pressure, the body may also exhibit bradycardia, which is a slower than normal heart rate. Profuse sweating, often above the level of the injury, is another hallmark symptom. This condition occurs in response to stimuli below the level of the spinal cord injury that the body cannot properly process due to disrupted communication between the brain and the autonomic nervous system.

In contrast, the other options are not representative of autonomic dysreflexia. Fluctuating blood sugar levels are generally associated with conditions like diabetes, while severe anxiety and panic attacks pertain more to mental health issues. Temperature regulation failure might relate to different neurological problems but does not specifically describe the acute physiological response seen in autonomic dysreflexia.