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CAR Optimization

Meaning

CAR Optimization, standing for Cortisol Awakening Response Optimization, is a clinical approach aimed at normalizing the healthy, transient surge of cortisol that occurs shortly after waking. This physiological response reflects the capacity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis to anticipate and prepare the body for the metabolic and psychological demands of the day. Optimal CAR is characterized by a robust, sharp rise followed by a rapid decline, indicating a resilient stress response system. Clinical strategies for optimization involve chronobiological interventions and stress modulation techniques designed to restore the HPA axis’s adaptive capacity.