Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of cerebral edema?

Normal heart rate is not a common symptom of cerebral edema. In cases of cerebral edema, which is the swelling of the brain due to an accumulation of fluid, one may typically observe symptoms resulting from increased intracranial pressure. These symptoms can include headache, drowsiness, and bradycardia, which is a slower than normal heart rate often seen as a compensatory mechanism in response to increased intracranial pressure.

In contrast, a normal heart rate is typically indicative of regulatory mechanisms working well and does not align with the distress signals the body sends when cerebral edema is present. Thus, maintaining a normal heart rate in the context of cerebral edema would be atypical, distinguishing it from the other symptoms that directly suggest neurological compromise and potential impairment of brain function.