02/19/2026
A client diagnosed with a C6 spinal cord injury and reporting a headache. (Correct Answer)
A severe headache is indicative of autonomic dysreflexia in the client who has sustained a high-level spinal cord injury. Autonomic dysreflexia is associated with a dangerously high blood pressure, and, if untreated, can result in intracranial bleeding and death. This client is the most unstable and is experiencing a potentially life-threatening issue that needs to be addressed immediately by the nurse.