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Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction

Meaning

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction, or HPA Axis Dysfunction, describes a state of functional dysregulation within the central stress response system, where the finely tuned communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands is compromised. This is not a primary disease of the glands themselves but an adaptive shift in signaling and output, typically in response to chronic physical or psychological stress. The resulting altered cortisol patterns compromise systemic homeostasis, leading to symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbance, and immune dysregulation.