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Cortisol Rhythm Normalization

Meaning

Cortisol rhythm normalization is the clinical and physiological process of restoring the diurnal fluctuation of the stress hormone cortisol to its healthy, expected circadian pattern. A healthy rhythm is characterized by a distinct peak concentration shortly after waking, known as the Cortisol Awakening Response, followed by a steady decline throughout the day, reaching its nadir around midnight. Dysregulation of this circadian pattern is frequently observed in chronic stress, which can negatively impact sleep, metabolism, and immune function. The clinical goal of normalization is to re-establish the appropriate amplitude and precise timing of cortisol secretion.