The cornerstone of Triumph Foundation is educating people who are newly disabled. We provide resources and referrals to help equip people to achieve greater quality of life.
Triumph Ambassadors give referrals through the distribution of our Resource Handbook that provides information on where to find and receive necessary goods and services.
This online version is an extensive list of excellent products and services available to people in the disabled community. It covers many relevant topics including adapted vehicles, medical supplies, wheelchairs, housing, and support groups.
Explore these pages to locate great people and companies who care about you and enjoy serving the needs of the disability community.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) is a potentially life threatening condition which can be considered a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. AD occurs most often in spinal cord-injured individuals with spinal lesions above the T6 spinal cord level, although it has been known to occur in patients with a lesion as low as T10.[1]
This condition is distinct and usually episodic, with the patient experiencing remarkably high blood pressure, slow heart rate, intense headaches, profuse sweating, flushing of the skin, goose-bumps, nasal stuffiness, a “feeling of doom” or apprehension, and blurred vision.
Acute AD is a reaction of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system to overstimulation. AD is believed to be triggered by afferent stimuli (nerve signals that send messages back to the spinal cord and brain) which originate below the level of the spinal cord lesion.
The most common causes of autonomic dysreflexia seen in patients with spinal cord injury are impaction in the bowels and distention in case of the bladder. These are generally found in patients with a spinal cord injury above the T6 (6th Thoracic Vertebral) level, but can occur in patients with a transection as low as T10 (10th Thoracic Vertebral) level.
Some medical professionals are not aware that these conditions are especially threatening for people living with paralysis. These handy wallet cards provide the life-saving information those staffing EMT units, emergency rooms and other health centers need to best treat you.
Cards are available as PDF downloads below, or you can have the wallet cards of your choice mailed by completing the form at the bottom of the page. All cards are available in both English and Spanish.
