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Sympathetic Parasympathetic Balance

Meaning

Sympathetic parasympathetic balance refers to the optimal, dynamic equilibrium between the two primary branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the “fight or flight” stress response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for “rest and digest” and recovery. This balance is a crucial, non-hormonal indicator of allostatic load and systemic resilience, profoundly influencing endocrine health, cardiovascular function, and metabolic regulation. Clinically, assessing this balance, often via Heart Rate Variability (HRV), provides actionable insight into a patient’s stress response capacity.