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Cortisol Dampening Effect

Meaning

A therapeutic or physiological phenomenon characterized by the controlled reduction in the amplitude or overall secretory response of the stress hormone cortisol, particularly in response to perceived or actual stressors. This effect is clinically desirable when the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis exhibits chronic hyper-responsiveness or sustained elevation. Effective dampening helps restore a healthier diurnal cortisol rhythm and reduces the long-term catabolic impact of excessive glucocorticoid exposure on tissues.