The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics released data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey indicating that fatigue is now one of the most common health complaints in the United States. The survey, which interviewed roughly 27,000 adults, found that 71.5% of respondents reported feeling fatigued on at least some days during a three‑month period.
Frequent fatigue affects a sizable minority
Within the broader group, 16.6% described “frequent fatigue,” meaning they felt exhausted most days or every day. The CDC defines fatigue as a state of physical or mental exhaustion that does not improve with rest, distinguishing it from ordinary sleepiness.
Who is most affected?
Women reported higher rates of frequent fatigue (20%) than men (13%). Younger adults ages 18 to 34 had the highest prevalence at 19.5%, while adults 65 and older reported the lowest rate at 12.9%.
The data also show that fatigue is more common among lower‑income households, residents of rural areas, and people living in the South and Midwest.
Impact on daily functioning
About half (50.9%) of those with frequent fatigue said the condition interfered with three or more functional areas, such as mood, mobility, and memory. More than one‑third reported that exhaustion limited their ability to work, and 29% said they had cut back on social activities.
Medical perspective
Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board‑certified neurologist at Jackson‑Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, told Fox News Digital that while hormonal, cardiac, or neurological conditions can contribute, “a vast majority of fatigue people experience is probably related to poor sleep quality as well as psychosocial stress, which a lot of times go hand‑in‑hand.” He emphasized that quality sleep is essential for both mental and physical restoration, noting that poor sleep can slow thought processing, reduce concentration, and diminish workforce productivity.
Modern life factors
Experts also pointed to workplace culture and constant digital connectivity as contributors. Dr. Murray said, “The advancements of instant communication technologies certainly have benefits; however, we are not able to disconnect from our work life any longer. There are now expectation issues from work that can be dealt with quickly over our phone, even late at night. Also, social media and constant scrolling have certainly contributed to a reduced quality of sleep.”
Research supports this view, showing that frequent multitasking between emails, chat messages, and other tasks forces the brain to repeatedly refocus, leading to mental fatigue.
Recommendations
To address the growing exhaustion, Dr. Murray recommends setting clear boundaries around work and electronic device use, especially in the hours leading up to sleep. He also advises anyone experiencing persistent fatigue to seek medical evaluation to rule out underlying medical conditions.
“It is important to disconnect from work and our electronic devices in the hours leading up to sleep,” he said. “Also, if fatigue is becoming a problem, it is important to seek medical attention to ensure there’s no underlying medical reason contributing to the fatigue.”
What this means for families and communities
For families, the findings underscore the importance of prioritizing rest and limiting screen time before bed. Communities can support healthier habits by promoting awareness of sleep hygiene and encouraging workplaces to adopt policies that respect personal time.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
