What is the Origin of Chronic Stress Biochemistry?

This term is rooted in stress physiology and psychoneuroimmunology, detailing the long-term, pathological consequences of chronic exposure to psychological or physiological stressors. The initial adaptive "fight or flight" response transitions into a chronic, low-grade inflammatory and catabolic state. Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome provides the historical framework for understanding this pathological progression toward exhaustion.

What is the Mechanism of Chronic Stress Biochemistry?

Persistent stressors trigger the chronic release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), driving excessive, often flattened, cortisol secretion. High cortisol then disrupts glucose metabolism, suppresses immune function, and can lead to dysregulation of mineralocorticoid receptors. This sustained hormonal imbalance ultimately depletes essential precursor molecules and diminishes receptor sensitivity throughout the endocrine system.

Chronic Stress Biochemistry ∞ Area

Chronic Stress Biochemistry

Meaning

The sustained, maladaptive biochemical alterations that result from prolonged, unremitting activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This state is characterized by persistent glucocorticoid elevation and altered catecholamine signaling, shifting the body’s metabolic and immune set points. The continuous demand for a stress response leads to systemic dysregulation and allostatic overload. This condition can profoundly impact hormonal health and metabolic function over time.