Worry about sleep causes more sleep disruption, expert warns
Fox News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel emphasizes not obsessing about sleep, noting studies suggest 6-7 hours is typically ideal. He highlights deep sleep’s vital function in brain detoxification, where microglia clean out metabolic waste and bad proteins. This restorative process reduces stress and improves heart health for many adults.
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Exhaustion has become the default state for a vast majority of Americans.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics shows that more than seven in 10 U.S. adults experience fatigue over any given three-month period — a drain that public health officials say is taking a heavy toll on work and daily life.
The report, based on the 2024 National Health Interview Survey of roughly 27,000 adults, revealed that exhaustion is one of the most common health complaints nationwide.
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The CDC defines fatigue as a state of physical or mental exhaustion that does not improve with rest, distinguishing it from simple sleepiness.
Overall, 71.5% of respondents reported feeling fatigued on at least some days, with 16.6% reporting “frequent fatigue” — defined as feeling exhausted most days or every day.
A report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reveals that 71.5% of U.S. adults experienced fatigue over a three-month period, with 16.6% reporting frequent exhaustion. (iStock)
“Fatigue can be caused by numerous issues,” Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, told Fox News Digital.
While underlying hormonal, cardiac or neurological conditions can play a role, “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.”
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Frequent fatigue is significantly more common among women (20%) than men (13%).
The data also shows that younger adults ages 18 to 34 reported the highest rates of frequent exhaustion at 19.5%, while adults 65 and older reported the lowest rate at 12.9%.
Fatigue also increases among lower-income households, residents in rural areas and those living in the South and Midwest.
Experts say constant interruptions and digital multitasking can leave people feeling mentally drained. (iStock)
About 50.9% of adults with frequent fatigue reported having difficulties in three or more functional areas, including mood, mobility and memory. More than one-third of frequently fatigued adults said exhaustion limits their ability to work, while 29% reported cutting back on social activities.
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“Quality of sleep is very important for restoration of both the mental and physical body,” Murray said. “The fatigue that results from poor quality of sleep contributes to slower thought processing, decreased concentration, and a less productive and happy workforce.”
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Although the report doesn’t identify specific causes, experts say workplace culture and constant digital connectivity may contribute to fatigue.
“The advancements of instant communication technologies certainly have benefits; however, we are not able to disconnect from our work life any longer,” Murray said.
Constant workplace connectivity, late-night communication and endless social media scrolling may undermine sleep quality by preventing the mind and body from fully disconnecting. (iStock)
“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.”
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Experts say constant interruptions and digital multitasking can leave people feeling mentally drained. Research has found that frequently switching between emails, chat messages and other work tasks forces the brain to repeatedly refocus, contributing to mental fatigue.
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To combat the growing exhaustion, Murray stressed the need for setting boundaries and seeking medical evaluation as needed.
“It is important to disconnect from work and our electronic devices in the hours leading up to sleep,” he advised. “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.”
