"Long COVID Linked to 4-Fold Increase in Chronic Fatigue Risk, CDC Study Shows"

A new study published in Nature Communications explains the impact of post-exertional malaise (PEM) on long COVID patients, revealing widespread muscle damage, changes in muscle composition, and disrupted energy metabolism after exercise. Long COVID patients experience a unique phenomenon where their ability to generate energy is impaired, leading to a rapid decline in mitochondrial function and metabolism. Additionally, they exhibit changes in muscle fiber composition and an impaired ability to recover from exercise, resulting in muscle damage, scarring, inflammation, and blood clots. The study emphasizes the importance of pacing to minimize the severity and duration of post-exertional malaise for long COVID patients.