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Sympathetic Nervous System Dominance

Meaning

A chronic physiological state characterized by an excessive and prolonged activation of the sympathetic branch of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), often referred to as the “fight-or-flight” state. This dominance results in elevated baseline levels of stress hormones, increased heart rate, peripheral vasoconstriction, and suppressed parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” activity. Clinically, this pattern is a major contributor to chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, hormonal dysregulation, and metabolic syndrome.