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Chronic Allostatic Overload

Meaning

Chronic Allostatic Overload is a state of physiological deterioration resulting from the sustained, excessive activation of the body’s adaptive stress response systems, particularly the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This condition signifies the cumulative biological burden incurred while attempting to maintain stability, or allostasis, against persistent psychosocial or physical stressors. The prolonged dysregulation precipitates damaging structural and functional changes across key neuroendocrine and metabolic systems.