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Stress Adaptation Priority

Meaning

Stress Adaptation Priority is the physiological and endocrinological principle that, under conditions of chronic or severe stress, the body’s Core Operating System prioritizes the allocation of metabolic and hormonal resources toward immediate survival and stress mitigation over non-essential functions, such as reproduction, growth, and long-term repair. This prioritization is primarily mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and leads to a predictable shift in the steroidogenesis pathway. Recognizing this priority is essential for understanding hormonal imbalances in the context of modern life.