Final answer:
The three steps to take with autonomic dysreflexia include sitting upright, creating a quiet environment, and repeating a calming mantra. The sympathetic and parasympathetic reflexes have different roles in the 'fight or flight' and 'rest and digest' responses, respectively. Short and long reflexes, signaling molecules, and drug effects are also crucial in understanding the autonomic nervous system's regulation of bodily functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three steps to take with autonomic dysreflexia are:
- Sit upright on a comfortable chair with feet on the ground and body in a relaxed position,
- Ensure a quiet environment with eyes closed,
- Repeat a word or a phrase—a mantra—to oneself, such as “alert mind, calm body”.
These steps can help manage the acute symptoms by facilitating parasympathetic activity and reducing sympathetic stimulation.
It is important to explain the differences in sympathetic and parasympathetic reflexes, as they are integral to the autonomic nervous system's response in autonomic dysreflexia. Sympathetic reflexes prepare the body for 'fight or flight' reactions, elevating heart rate and blood pressure; while parasympathetic reflexes facilitate 'rest and digest' functions, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure.
Short and long reflexes differ in terms of their pathways and the time they take to process. Short reflexes are localized reactions that occur within the organ they serve, whereas long reflexes involve the central nervous system and thus have a longer pathway and response time.