Smokers who make the decision to quit will experience immediate health benefits, including a rapid reduction in their risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The study, conducted by Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, offers compelling evidence for smokers to quit, showing that it’s never too late to avoid the damaging effects of smoking on heart health.

Dr. Marcus, the senior author of the study, emphasized that A-Fib can be prevented even in individuals who have smoked for years. "The findings provide a compelling new reason to show current smokers that it’s not too late to quit, and that having smoked in the past doesn’t mean you’re ‘destined’ to develop A-Fib," Marcus explained. "Even for the current and longtime smoker, A-Fib can still be avoided."

What is Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)?

"There’s strong evidence that smoking increases the risk of A-Fib," Marcus said. "But the benefits of quitting smoking have been less certain." With this in mind, his team sought to determine whether quitting could significantly lower a person’s risk of developing A-Fib, or if the risk would remain the same.

The research team analyzed data from over 146,700 current and former smokers, tracking their smoking habits and health over a 12-year period using data from the UK Biobank database. The results were promising: former smokers had a 13% lower risk of developing A-Fib compared to current smokers, while those who quit during the study saw an 18% reduction in their risk.

"This is likely a testament to the potency of reducing atrial fibrillation risk pretty shortly after quitting," Marcus said in a statement from the American College of Cardiology.

The findings highlight the importance of quitting smoking, not only for general health but specifically for reducing the risk of serious heart conditions like A-Fib.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of A-Fib and improve overall heart health. While it can be challenging, the benefits of quitting are clear and immediate. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking successfully:

1. Choose a specific date to quit smoking and stick to it. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for this change.

2. Reach out to family, friends, or a support group to help keep you accountable. Sharing your goals with others can provide encouragement.

3. Options like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

4. Identify situations that make you want to smoke, such as stress or social gatherings, and find healthy ways to cope with them.

5. Regular exercise can help distract you from cravings and improve your mood during the quitting process.

6. Drinking water can help flush nicotine out of your system faster, reducing cravings.

7. Activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress, a common trigger for smoking.

Quitting smoking offers immediate and significant benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation. The latest research provides smokers with more motivation to quit, showing that it's never too late to take control of their heart health.

A new study has identified 485 chemicals used in pesticide products in the US that are linked to breast cancer, raising new concerns about how these chemicals are assessed for safety against serious diseases.

The peer-reviewed research, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, dug beyond the active ingredients in pesticides and examined the inactive ingredients that are often not subjected to the same level of safety scrutiny.

The study identifies chemicals associated with breast cancer risk. It does not establish that exposure to these pesticides causes breast cancer in people.

What Did The Researchers Find?

Of the 485 chemicals identified in pesticide formulations, only 145 were registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as active ingredients. The remaining chemicals were classified as inactive or 'inert' ingredients. These ingredients can serve different purposes, like helping pesticide ingredients spread, penetrate surfaces or become more absorbed.

The researchers argue that focusing primarily on active ingredients may overlook risks from the complete pesticide formulation.

“Our findings highlight a regulatory blind spot around so-called inert ingredients,” lead author Dr Jennifer Kay of the Silent Spring Institute said in a research release.

Also read: FDA Approves New Drug For Rare Disorder That Turns Muscles Into Bone: What Is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva?

What Does “Inert” Mean?

An inert ingredient is generally considered 'inactive' as it does not target the pest the product is designed to kill. It does not mean that it has no biological effect on humans. According to the study's researchers, people are exposed to the entire pesticide formulation, not just the active ingredient in the pesticide.

The researchers identified around 4,000 inert ingredients approved for use by the EPA, including some PFAS, commonly known as 'forever chemicals.'

Pesticide Exposure

Pesticide exposure is not limited to agricultural workers or people living near farms. The chemicals identified in the study can also occur in products used around homes, including lawn treatments, flea and tick products and lice treatments. Pesticides can also enter the environment through food and drinking water.

The researchers found that 84 of the identified chemicals were detectable in the general US population based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, although they said this likely underestimates exposure because many of the compounds are not routinely tracked.

Also read: Mpox Case Detected In Congo’s Ituri Amid Ebola Outbreak: Why Are Health Officials Concerned?

Pesticides & Breast Cancer Link

The researchers classified chemicals based on existing evidence linking them to breast cancer. That is different from demonstrating that pesticide exposure directly causes breast cancer in humans.

Breast cancer is a complex disease that involves multiple genetic, hormonal, environmental and lifestyle factors.

The study does, however, raise a question about whether the combined exposure to multiple chemicals is adequately considered during pesticide safety assessments.

The researchers noted that the EPA generally evaluates individual pesticide ingredients rather than the entire formulation or people's exposure to multiple pesticides.

The research comes as breast cancer rates, including among younger women, continue to rise in the US. According to the American Cancer Society data cited by The Guardian, breast cancer incidence has been increasing by about 1% a year, with a slightly faster increase among women under 50.

reaImagine developing a strange medical condition in which an injury or even a minor fall may trigger a process that may gradually turn muscles, tendons and ligaments into bone.

This is what fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), one of the world’s rarest genetic disorders, looks like.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new treatment option for FOP called Atebrioz (zilurgisertib), a once-daily pill developed by Mirum Pharmaceuticals.

Adults and children aged 12 years and above with FOP are eligible for this treatment. It is designed to reduce the formation of new bone outside the skeleton.

What Is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva?

FOP is a rare genetic disease in which connective tissues like muscles, tendons and ligaments gradually turn into bone. The abnormal bone formation is known as heterotopic ossification, meaning bone starts to develop in places where it should not.

Over time, this can pose restriction in movement, cause deformities and lead to severe disability. The condition could affect quality of life significantly as well as shorten life expectancy.

FOP is usually diagnosed in childhood. According to Mirum, around 300 people in the US and about 900 worldwide are known to have the condition.

Also read: New RNA Therapy For ALS, The Disease Stephen Hawking Had: Patient With Rare Motor Neuron Disease Improves

Why Does The Body Starts Making Bone In The Wrong Places?

FOP is caused by mutations in a gene involved in bone growth, especially the ACVR1 gene, which produces a protein called activin A receptor type-1, or ALK2. In people with FOP, this pathway becomes abnormally active. As a result, the body can start producing bone within soft tissues.

This process can occur in episodes called flare-ups. Trauma, surgery or other triggers can sometimes provoke inflammation and subsequent abnormal bone formation. The problem is that once mature bone has formed in these tissues, it can permanently restrict movement.

Also read: Rare Pregnancy Infections Linked To 3-Fold Higher Autism Risk: What Is TORCH?

More About The New Drug

Atebrioz contains zilurgisertib, an oral drug that blocks ALK2, the protein that is abnormally active in most people with FOP and triggers bone formation outside the skeleton.

The aim is not to remove bone that has already formed. Instead, the treatment is designed to reduce the formation of new abnormal bone.

FDA’s approval was based on a randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving 63 people with FOP. Participants received either zilurgisertib or placebo for 24 weeks, followed by an extension period.

At week 24, patients receiving Atebrioz had an average 3.2 cm³ decrease in the volume of newly formed abnormal bone, compared to a 24.6 cm³ increase in the placebo group. The FDA said the difference supported the drug’s effectiveness in reducing new heterotopic ossification.

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Symptoms & Treatment Of FOP

The disease can vary between individuals, but abnormal bone formation can progressively restrict movement. People with FOP may develop difficulty moving their neck, shoulders, spine, hips and other joints as new bone forms around them.

The condition can eventually affect mobility substantially. Extra bone formation can also interfere with everyday activities and contribute to severe disability.

Another characteristic feature is that people with FOP are often born with abnormalities of the big toes, which can help doctors recognise the rare condition early.

Atebrioz is not the first FDA-approved treatment for FOP. The FDA approved Sohonos (palovarotene) in 2023 as the first treatment for the disease.

More recently, the FDA approved Pasatru (garetosmab-grts) in August 2026, making Atebrioz the third FDA-approved treatment for FOP. The newer options differ in how they target the abnormal bone formation.

A confirmed case of mpox has been detected in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health authorities are already battling the country's largest-ever Ebola outbreak.

The development has raised concerns about the additional pressure on an already stretched outbreak response and the overall healthcare system.

The mpox case was confirmed after a 21-year-old woman was hospitalised with skin lesions that ae commonly seen in mpox.

The two viruses are not associated with each other, but the threat of two highly infectious diseases is now being navigated in the same area at the same time.

Mpox Case In Congo Amid Ebola Outbreak

Ituri is at the centre of one of the worst Ebola outbreaks the country has ever seen. As of September 23, the DRC reported 7,890 confirmed Ebola cases and around 3,799 deaths. The a case-fatality ratio, according to WHO, stayed put at 48.1%. Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, solely accounted for 6,032 confirmed cases.

The Ebola outbreak has also expanded geographically, with new cases reported across 63 health zones in seven provinces. The WHO says the continued spread is increasing the risk of cross-border transmission.

The appearance of mpox in Bunia, against the backdrop of Ebola, creates another challenge for surveillance, testing, infection prevention and safety of healthcare workers.

Also read: 1,370 Mpox Cases, 7 Deaths Reported In July: WHO Says Risk Remains Moderate

What Is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral disease that can cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and peculiar rash or skin lesions. It spreads mainly through close physical contact with an infected person.

Some people recover without complications, while others can develop serious symptoms, particularly those with weak immune systems.

The newly case is especially alarming as the DRC had declared an end to mpox as a national public health emergency in April, following a three-year outbreak that resulted in more than 34,000 confirmed cases nationwide.

Also read: Canada Confirms Clade 1 Strain of Mpox: Know How It Impacts Human

Burden On An Already Overwhelmed Healthcare System

The two diseases are caused by different viruses and spread differently. A confirmed mpox case does not indicate that Ebola has mutated or that the two outbreaks are connected.

The WHO says the Ebola response is already operating under difficult conditions, with conflict, insecurity, population displacement and limited access to basic services hampering surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and timely care.

The concern is that health systems, that were already dealing with a major outbreak, now have another infection to detect, investigate and contain.

Bunia is not just another location where a case has been detected. It is the capital of Ituri, where the Ebola outbreak is the most concentrated.

WHO teams have described Bunia as a key operational hub for the response, with flights transporting healthcare workers, medicines and other supplies to affected regions.

The immediate priority will be investigation, contact tracing, and surveillance to determine whether the case is linked to a wider cluster.

DRC is already conducting extensive contact monitoring for Ebola. As of September 23, more than 32,000 people were listed for follow-up, depicting the scale of the response.