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Environmental Stressors

Meaning

Environmental Stressors are external physical, chemical, or psychosocial factors that elicit a physiological or psychological stress response in an organism, challenging its ability to maintain homeostasis. In the domain of hormonal health, these stressors include exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), persistent organic pollutants, noise pollution, and chronic psychosocial demands. Sustained exposure can lead to chronic activation of the HPA axis, resulting in cortisol dysregulation, and can also interfere with thyroid and sex hormone signaling pathways. Mitigating the impact of these stressors is a critical component of restorative endocrine therapy.