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.

Scientists for the first time ever developed antibodies that could block Epstein Barr virus or EBV. This is a pathogen that is estimated to infect 95 per cent of the global population. The Epstein Barr virus is also linked with multiple types of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other chronic health conditions.

Antibodies for Epstein Barr Virus: How Does It Work?

Scientists used mice with human antibody genes. The team then developed new genetically human monoclonal antibodies that would prevent two key antigens on the surface of the Epstein Barr virus from binding to entering human immune cells.

The findings are published in Cell Reports Medicine. The study shows how the newly identified monoclonal antibodies successfully block infection in mice with human immune systems when they had EBV.

Scientists View On The Antibodies That Block Epstein Barr Virus

"Finding human antibodies that block Epstein Barr virus from infecting our immune cells has been particularly challenging because, unlike other viruses, EBV finds a way to bind to nearly every one of our B cells," explained Andrew McGuire, Ph.D., a biochemist and cellular biologist in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at Fred Hutch. "We decided to use new technologies to try to fill this knowledge gap and we ended up taking a critical step toward blocking one of the world's most common viruses."

What Was the Challenge In The Creation Of Antibodies To Block Epstein Barr Virus?

The key challenge was to pursue human monoclonal antibodies that could actually halt the Epstein Barr virus infection without triggering an anti-drug response to the antibodies themselves. This is a common response among patients who are treated with antibodies raised in other animals.

The researchers targeted two antigens namely: gp350, which helps EBV bind to cell receptors. The second antigen was gp42 that allows EBV to enter and infect human antibody genes. This has led to the monoclonal antibodies to work against gp350 and eight gp42.

"Not only did we identify important antibodies against Epstein Barr virus, but we also validated an innovative a new approach for discovering protective antibodies against other pathogens," noted Crystal Chhan, a pathobiology Ph.D. student in the McGuire Lab. "As an early-career scientist, it was an exciting finding and has helped me appreciate how science often leads to unexpected discoveries."

Read: Chronic Epstein-Bar Virus: Can A Common Viral Infection Cause Fatal Brain Damage?

What Is Epstein Bar Virus (EBV)?

EBV is a highly contagious virus that can pass through bodily fluid contact. It is the cause of one of the most common infections, mononucleosis or mono. Once you get this virus, it stays in your body, inactive and in a dormant state until it becomes reactivated.

According to the Frontiers in Immunology, Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) disease is a very uncommon problem where people's bodies can't fight off the EBV virus. It keeps getting worse, with a lot of the virus's DNA in their blood and the virus attacking their organs with infected blood cells.

People with this disease often have fevers, swollen glands, a big spleen, liver problems caused by EBV, or low blood counts. Over time, their body's ability to fight off infections gets weaker. If they don't get treatment, they can die from other infections, a problem where the body attacks its own blood cells, organ failure, or cancers linked to EBV.

The only treatment that has been proven to work for this disease is a stem cell transplant (a procedure to replace damaged blood cells with healthy ones). Right now, scientists are trying to figure out why this disease happens. They are looking at problems with the body's defense system (immune defects) and changes in people's genes that might be linked to the disease. A new study as also revealed that EBV may also cause us brain damage due to a disease called encephalitis.

Symptoms Of Epstein-Bar Virus

EBV infections do not cause symptoms especially for children, teens and adults are more likely to experience symptoms like fever, feeling tired or fatigued headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in your neck and arm, enlarged spleen or swollen liver, body aches and skin rash. The symptoms of this usually last for two to four weeks. Things are a bit different with Chronic EBV. In rare cases of EBV, it can lead to a chronic condition called active EBV (CAEVB) some symptoms include, swollen and tender lymph nodes, fever, enlarged liver, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain joint stiffness, anemia and liver failure.

Meghalaya's Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla has raised alarm over the rising HIV cases in the state, noting that 10,293 infected residents were receiving antiretroviral treatment.

Along with this, Shylla noted that nearly 750 people have died due to the condition in the past decade with East Khasi Hills district reporting 435 of those cases. Coming in second is West Jaintia Hills with 123 cases, East Jaintia Hills with 90 cases, Ri Bhoi with 51 cases and Eastern West Khasi Hills reporting 16.

Nine deaths in West Garo Hills, eight in West Khasi Hills, seven in South West Khasi Hills, three in South Garo Hills, two in South West Garo Hills, and one in North Garo Hills have also been recorded.

During a question hour in an assembly session on February 25, the official said: "It is very unfortunate, but Meghalaya is having the highest cases in India".

He also highlighted the confidentiality clauses in the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017 as well as existing social stigma as major challenges in addressing the rampant spread of the issue. “Early detection and intervention get complicated because testing requires consent and treatment cannot be forced,” he said.

“The State government has sanctioned a ₹25-crore intervention program for the next five years to address the alarming rise in HIV/AIDS cases,” Shylla declared as well as assured that the Department has been intensifying awareness campaigns to improve testing and treatment.

The global challenge of HIV/AIDS remains one of the most pressing public health issues today. According to the latest data from UNAIDS, around 38.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS.

As of 2024–2025, India has approximately 2.5 million to 2.56 million people living with HIV (PLHIV), marking the third-largest HIV epidemic globally, underlining the need for not only medical intervention but also comprehensive awareness, education, and social change.

What Is HIV?

HIV is the virus responsible for attacking the body’s immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells, which are crucial for the body’s defense against infections. As HIV progresses, it destroys these cells, weakening the immune system over time. If left untreated, this continuous damage can lead to AIDS.

HIV is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It is primarily spread through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding.

Without treatment, HIV progresses through three stages:

- Acute HIV Infection: This stage occurs shortly after transmission and may include symptoms like fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

- Chronic HIV Infection: Often asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, the virus continues to damage the immune system but at a slower rate.

- AIDS: This is the final stage, marked by severe immune damage and the presence of infections that take advantage of the compromised immune defenses.

The disease is diagnosed through blood tests or oral swabs that detect the presence of the virus or antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the virus. Early detection of HIV is crucial, as it allows for timely intervention and treatment, which can prevent the virus from progressing to AIDS.

For HIV, the primary treatment goal is to suppress the virus to undetectable levels, thus maintaining a strong immune system and preventing further transmission of the virus. People living with HIV can often live long, healthy lives if they adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

What's Happening In Mizoram?

Mizoram Health Minister Lalrinpuii has expressed serious concern about rising HIV cases, as data shows that cases in the state are 13 times higher than the national average.

Calling it a "collective disgrace", Lalrinpuii said: “About 70 per cent of HIV transmissions in Mizoram occur through sexual contact. While the national prevalence rate stands at a mere 0.2 per cent, Mizoram’s rate has climbed to 2.74 per cent. This is a matter of shame for Mizo society.”

Speaking at an event organised for International Condom Day in Aizawl on February 13, she noted that a majority of that sexual contact remains the primary route of HIV infections in the state, accounting for 70 per cent of all cases.

The minister noted that the spread is largely driven by infidelity and a lack of preventive measures, which she argued contradicted the moral and religious values of the Mizo society.

She urged the people of the state to remain faithful to their partners. “To protect the future of Mizoram, our youth must remain vigilant,” Lalrinpuii added.

Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o has revealed that her fibroids have returned after undergoing surgery in 2014 -- now doubling up to 50, raising awareness about the often-overlooked health condition in women.

Speaking at the Today show, the Oscar-winning star Nyong’o said that she was first diagnosed with fibroids, a noncancerous tumor -- about 30 in number -- in 2014.

The growths made of muscle and tissue were removed with myomectomy, the fibroid-removal surgery.

However, the fibroids came back after over a decade, with the largest being the size of an orange, Nyong’o said.

She noted that the doubled-up fibroids are causing her more pain, while her treatment options remain largely the same.

“The first time I got the fibroids taken out, they took out 23,” she said on the show. “And this time, I’ve been informed two years ago that I have over 50.”

“And I’m being faced with the same options,” she added. “Surgery or live with the pain.”

Even as she is contemplating her treatment options, the A Quiet Place: Day One star opened up about feeling left alone and scared for her reproductive health during the initial phase.

She is now speaking out and connecting with other women suffering like her. Nyong’o is also advocating and raising money for scientists to research less invasive and non-invasive treatment methods for fibroids.

I was told that fibroids were something women live with. In refuse to accept that. Millions of women are suffering in silence, and we deserve better answers, better care and better options," Nyong’o wrote in a post on Instagram.

What Are Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form inside or on the uterus. They are very common, affecting an estimated 40 to 80 percent of people with a uterus between the ages of 30 and 50.

In some cases, fibroids do not cause any noticeable symptoms, which means many people may not realize they have them. However, when symptoms are present, they often include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods
• Longer or more frequent periods
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Frequent urination or trouble urinating
• Growing stomach area
• Constipation
• Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex

Obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI) are the most common risk factors that can increase the chances of developing fibroids. Others include family history, not having children, early onset of menstruation (getting your period at a young age), and late age of menopause.

How To Treat Fibroids? Can They Recur?

There are several tests that can be done to confirm fibroids and determine their size and location.

These tests can include ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy.

Myomectomy is a commonly used surgical procedure to remove fibroids. There are several types of myomectomy, and they are used depending on the location of the fibroids, their size, and number.

The types of myomectomy procedures include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laparotomy, hysterectomy, uterine fibroid embolization, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Even after a successful myomectomy, new fibroids can still develop. The recurrence risk is more common among young adults (under age 40) with many fibroids. The risk is less among people near menopause or with few fibroids.

Visit your doctor if you have:

• Pelvic pain that doesn't go away
• Heavy or painful periods that limit what you can do
• Spotting or bleeding between periods
• Trouble emptying your bladder
• Ongoing tiredness and weakness, which can be symptoms of anemia, meaning a low level of red blood cells.