Fatigue Can Wreck You

Many people, especially those dealing with long COVID, suffer from fatigue. But not common, everyday tiredness—it’s more like a total body crash that can be triggered by the smallest exertion, something as simple as taking a shower. It’s serious, and yet many doctors have a hard time taking it seriously.
Ed Yong, a former staff writer at The Atlantic whose reporting on COVID won a Pulitzer Prize, explains how people with fatigue can feel, and what experts actually know about the condition and how to treat it.
Read Ed's story on fatigue, long COVID, and ME / CFS here: "Fatigue Can Shatter a Person"
If you have any comments or suggestions about the show, submit feedback at theatlantic.com/listener-survey
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Many people, especially those dealing with long COVID, suffer from fatigue. But not common, everyday tiredness—it’s more like a total body crash that can be triggered by the smallest exertion, something as simple as taking a shower. It’s serious, and yet many doctors have a hard time taking it seriously.

Ed Yong, a former staff writer at The Atlantic whose reporting on COVID won a Pulitzer Prize, explains how people with fatigue can feel, and what experts actually know about the condition and how to treat it.

Read Ed's story on fatigue, long COVID, and ME / CFS here: "Fatigue Can Shatter a Person"

If you have any comments or suggestions about the show, submit feedback at theatlantic.com/listener-survey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices