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Thermal Stress

Meaning

Thermal Stress is the physiological disturbance imposed on the body when its core temperature deviates significantly from the narrow range required for optimal metabolic function, due to either excessive heat or cold exposure. The body must expend significant energy to activate complex thermoregulatory mechanisms to maintain homeostasis. This stressor is clinically relevant because it transiently modulates key hormonal axes, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and influences cellular resilience through the induction of specific heat or cold shock proteins.