Why Does Long Covid Cause FATIGUE? (And How To Fix)

Welcome to an in-depth exploration of why Long COVID leaves so many people grappling with extreme fatigue. In this video, I break down the 11 key mechanisms behind this debilitating symptom, backed by the latest research as of May 2025.
Whether you're a Long COVID patient, a caregiver, or simply curious about the science, this video offers clear, evidence-based insights into the complex causes of Long COVID fatigue.
What You'll Learn in This Video:
I dive into the physiological and biochemical reasons behind Long COVID fatigue, including:
Chronic Inflammation – How an overactive immune system drains energy with persistent cytokine storms.
Oxidative Stress – The role of cellular damage from imbalanced antioxidants and reactive oxygen species.
Microvascular Dysfunction – Why microclots and poor blood flow starve tissues of oxygen, leading to exhaustion.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction – How SARS-CoV-2 may impair your cells’ energy factories, reducing ATP production.
Transcriptional Dysregulation – The impact of altered gene expression on immune activation and energy metabolism.
Viral Reactivation – How latent viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may reawaken, contributing to fatigue.
Neuroinflammation – The brain’s role in fatigue, including "brain fog" caused by central nervous system inflammation.
Autonomic Dysfunction – Why a dysregulated nervous system keeps you in a constant "fight or flight" state.
Impaired Waste Clearance – The buildup of toxic waste in muscles and tissues, worsening fatigue.
Sleep and Hormonal Imbalances – How disrupted sleep and hormonal shifts amplify post-exertional malaise (PEM).
Vascular and Muscle Tension Issues – The impact of blood vessel inflammation and chronic muscle tension on oxygen delivery.

Why This Matters:
Fatigue affects up to 50% of Long COVID patients, with profound impacts on daily life, work, and mental health. Understanding these mechanisms is the first step toward better treatments and recovery strategies.
Who Is This Video For?
Long COVID patients seeking to understand their symptoms
Healthcare professionals looking for a concise summary of fatigue mechanisms
Researchers and students interested in post-viral syndromes
Anyone curious about the science behind Long COVID

Comment Below: What’s your biggest struggle with fatigue? Let me know, and I’ll share more tailored tips!

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Reference Articles:
🔶https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1344086/full
🔶https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s15010-024-02386-8?trk=public_post_comment-text
🔶https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10179190/
🔶https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44432-3#Sec8
🔶https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33251031/
🔶https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05152849
🔶https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3501671/
🔶https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-016-0170-2
🔶https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-022-03244-7
🔶https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-024-05410-5
🔶https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40230744/
🔶https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition

Timestamps-
00:10 - What is the video about?
00:39 Why does long covid cause fatigue?
01:01 There are 4 main areas
01:21 Immune system, energy production, blood flow and viral reactivation
01:57 Eleven parts to Why long covid causes fatigue
06:57 Naturopathic Approach
07:13 Naturopathic Specific Support Examples