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Stress Response

Meaning

The stress response is the body’s integrated physiological and behavioral reaction to any perceived or actual threat to homeostasis, orchestrated primarily by the neuroendocrine system. This adaptive mechanism involves the rapid activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System and the slower, sustained activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to the release of catecholamines and glucocorticoids like cortisol. While acutely beneficial for survival, chronic or dysregulated stress responses contribute to systemic inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and accelerated aging, making its management a key clinical priority.