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Chronic Stress Cortisol Suppression

Meaning

Chronic stress cortisol suppression describes a clinical state where prolonged activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis eventually leads to a blunted or reduced cortisol response, often following an initial phase of hypercortisolism. This suppression is not a return to healthy baseline but rather a state of HPA axis fatigue or dysregulation, characterized by inadequate cortisol secretion in response to subsequent stressors. It reflects a significant depletion of the body’s adaptive capacity, leading to chronic fatigue and systemic inflammatory issues. This is a maladaptive phase of the stress response.