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Systemic Stress Index

Meaning

The Systemic Stress Index is a composite, clinically derived metric that quantitatively measures the cumulative physiological burden and allostatic load placed upon the body’s major regulatory systems, particularly the interconnected neuroendocrine, immune, and metabolic axes. This index integrates and synthesizes various objective biomarkers, such such as cortisol metabolites, inflammatory cytokines, and heart rate variability parameters, to provide a single, comprehensive measure of overall stress resilience. A high index suggests significant allostatic overload, reduced physiological reserve capacity, and an elevated risk of chronic health issues.