Exhaustion has become a routine burden for a striking majority of Americans. Federal data show that more than 7 in 10 adults experienced fatigue during a three month period, with consequences reaching into work, relationships and everyday activities.

The findings come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The report analyzed responses from roughly 27,000 adults who participated in the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.

The CDC defines fatigue as physical or mental exhaustion that does not improve with rest, separating the condition from ordinary sleepiness. Overall, 71.5% of respondents said they felt fatigued on at least some days.

Another 16.6% reported frequent fatigue, which the report defined as feeling exhausted most days or every day. The results place exhaustion among the most common health complaints reported across the country.

Women were considerably more likely than men to report frequent fatigue. The rate reached 20% among women, compared with 13% among men.

Age also revealed a notable divide. Adults ages 18 to 34 recorded the highest frequent fatigue rate at 19.5%, while adults ages 65 and older had the lowest rate at 12.9%.

Fatigue was also more common among households with lower incomes, people living in rural communities and residents of the South and Midwest. The report did not identify specific causes behind those differences.

For many respondents, exhaustion was tied to broad disruptions in daily functioning. About 50.9% of adults with frequent fatigue reported difficulty in at least three functional areas, including memory, mobility and mood.

More than one third of adults experiencing frequent fatigue said exhaustion limited their ability to work. Another 29% reported reducing their social activities because of fatigue.

“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. Hormonal, cardiac and neurological conditions may contribute to the problem.

Murray said “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.” Those factors may overlap even when no specific medical cause is identified in the report.

“Quality of sleep is very important for restoration of both the mental and physical body,” Murray said. Poor sleep can affect how people think, concentrate and perform their jobs.

“The fatigue that results from poor quality of sleep contributes to slower thought processing, decreased concentration, and a less productive and happy workforce.” The report’s findings show how frequently those difficulties can accompany persistent exhaustion.

Although the CDC report did not determine particular causes, experts pointed to workplace culture and constant digital connectivity as possible contributors. Phones, work messages and social media can make it harder for people to fully disconnect before sleep.

“The advancements of instant communication technologies certainly have benefits; however, we are not able to disconnect from our work life any longer,” Murray said. Work demands can now follow people through their phones well beyond traditional working hours.

“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.”

Constant interruptions and digital multitasking may also leave people mentally drained. Research has found that repeatedly shifting among email, chat messages and other work responsibilities forces the brain to refocus again and again, contributing to mental fatigue.

Fox News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel emphasized avoiding an obsession with sleep and noted that studies suggest 6 to 7 hours is typically ideal. He also highlighted deep sleep’s role in brain detoxification.

During that restorative process, microglia clear metabolic waste and harmful proteins from the brain. Siegel said the process reduces stress and improves heart health for many adults.

Murray advised people to establish firm boundaries around work and technology before bedtime. “It is important to disconnect from work and our electronic devices in the hours leading up to sleep,” he advised.

He also urged people to seek an evaluation when fatigue becomes a persistent concern. “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.”