Which physiological response is expected as intracranial pressure increases?

As intracranial pressure increases, the body often reacts with a compensatory response known as Cushing's triad, which includes hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations. Hypertension occurs as the body attempts to maintain cerebral perfusion despite the increased pressure within the skull. This is a critical adaptive mechanism because adequate blood flow is necessary to provide oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue.

Bradycardia is another component of this response. As blood pressure rises, it activates baroreceptors, which send signals to the medulla to decrease heart rate in order to compensate for increased blood pressure. This can create a paradox where high blood pressure is accompanied by a low heart rate.

Understanding these physiological changes is important when managing patients with conditions that can lead to elevated intracranial pressure, such as traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, or hemorrhagic strokes, as they often indicate the need for urgent medical intervention.