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.

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after recent reports and estimates showed that around one in every 60 adults may now be living with HIV.

The estimate has sparked concern as it marks a sharp rise from about one in 167 adults five years ago.

Fiji recorded more than 2,000 new HIV diagnoses in 2025. Health officials have attributed the grim development to unsafe injecting practices, lack of sterile equipment and major gaps in HIV treatment and prevention.

Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said the scale and reach of the epidemic required a response that is more effective than existing outbreak measures.

“The findings also show the seriousness of the epidemic and the gaps we must close in prevention, treatment and continuing care. We have acted on that evidence. An outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient. The Ministry of Health cannot meet this challenge alone. It requires coordinated action across Government, alongside communities and our partners.”

Factors Driving Rising HIV Cases In Fiji

Health officials and HIV experts have identified injectable drug use, especially meth, as a major driver of the current surge.

The concern is not methamphetamine abuse itself transmitting HIV. The risk arises when people who inject drugs share needles and syringes to ingest the drugs.

Dr Jason Mitchell, chair of Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, said, “Fiji is currently navigating the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world, and what is driving this epidemic now is risky injecting drug use of people who currently inject methamphetamines.”

He added, “The unavailability of sterile needles and syringes has resulted in people who use drugs sharing needles, syringes and drug-mixing equipment.”

UNAIDS has previously highlighted the scale of the change. It reported that new HIV infections in Fiji had increased tenfold since 2014, while only 36% of people living with HIV were estimated to know their status in 2024 and just 24% were receiving treatment.

Also read: Thailand’s HIV Cases Cross 550,000 In 2026; Over 25,000 Among 15–24s

Growing Treatment Gap

Finding people with HIV is only the first step. They need to remain connected to treatment to contain transmission.

Recent reports found that the proportion of diagnosed people receiving antiretroviral therapy had fallen from more than 98% before 2021 to around 56%.

“We are now finding people faster than we are able to keep them in care,” Mitchell said.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses HIV in the body and allows people living with HIV to lead long, healthy lives.

When treatment reduces the virus to an undetectable level, people do not sexually transmit HIV, a principle known as U=U, or undetectable equals untransmittable.

Also read: Exclusive With Leading HIV Expert: What's Driving Rising HIV Cases Among India's Youth And How To Prevent It

Fiji Plans Needle Exchange And More PrEP

The government says its response will include expanded HIV testing and treatment, greater access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the introduction of a formal needle and syringe programme.

It also plans to strengthen its follow-up care system so people diagnosed with HIV remain connected to treatment.

The emergency declaration comes as HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care has reached around 2%, or about one in 50 pregnant women.

That figure raises the concern of mother-to-child transmission. HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, but effective treatment and preventive care can dramatically reduce this risk.

Delhi has reported 121 dengue cases so far in September, taking the city’s total this year to 432, according to recent data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

September has recorded the highest number of dengue cases in a single month so far this year, accounting for more than a fourth of the total cases as the monsoon season continues.

The month has also recorded the highest number of malaria cases so far this year, with no malaria-related deaths reported, according to MCD data.

The Delhi reported 90 dengue cases in August. Malaria cases rose from 17 in July to 53 in August, taking the cumulative malaria tally to 119 by the end of August, according to the MCD.

Highest Dengue Cases

Also read: ICMR Study Shows Pune Dengue Mosquitoes Resistant To Insecticides: What It Means for Public Health

According to the MCD’s weekly vector-borne disease report, the national capital recorded 71 new dengue infections over the past week alone.

West Delhi has reported the highest number of dengue cases this year, with 57 cases, followed by Central Delhi with 54 and Shahdara North with 50.

Delhi had reported 619 dengue cases during the corresponding period in 2025, compared with 709 in 2024, 2,097 in 2023 and 295 in 2022.

Malaria Cases Also Rise

Delhi has recorded 183 malaria cases so far this year, including 64 cases in September, the highest monthly figure reported this year. However, no malaria-related deaths have been reported, the MCD data showed.

The capital has also recorded 24 chikungunya cases so far this year, compared with 46 during the corresponding period in 2025. Two chikungunya cases have been reported in September so far.

Read More: Will India Be Malaria-Free By 2030? 160 Districts Report Zero Cases Over 3 Years; Burden Falls 80% In A Decade

Is Climate Behind Dengue Spread?

Temperature and other environmental conditions can affect mosquito survival, reproduction and biting behaviour, as well as how quickly the dengue virus develops inside the mosquito.

Warmer conditions can create more favourable conditions for dengue transmission and potentially expand the areas where dengue-carrying mosquitoes can survive.

Recently released WHO's Global Public Health Situation Analysis – El Niño 2026 also identified India among countries facing high or very high health risks as El Niño event is on its way to alters weather patterns across South Asia.

El Niño is a periodic warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that can disrupt weather patterns around the world.

As per the WHO assessment identified India is at high or very high risk, with most of South Asia, for a drier-than-normal conditions and above-normal heat during August-October.

Such changes in temperature and rainfall can influence mosquito populations and the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

READ: Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert

How To Prevent Mosquito Bites

To lower your risk of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases:

• Wear clothes that cover as much of the body as possible

• Use mosquito nets, ideally treated with insect repellent, when sleeping during the day

• Install window screens

• Use repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535.

• Use mosquito coils and vaporizers.

How To Stop Mosquitoes From Breeding

• Remove places where water can accumulate

• Dispose of solid waste properly

• Cover, empty and clean domestic water-storage containers weekly.

• Remove artificial containers that can hold water.

• Use appropriate insecticides in outdoor water-storage containers.

Pakistan-made skin lightening creams that Indian regulators warned consumers against are still showing up on online marketplaces. This has raised concerns about how unauthorised cosmetics are reaching buyers despite regulatory restrictions.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public health alert against Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, both produced in Pakistan.

The regulator said the creams were not registered for import into India and contained excessive heavy metals beyond specified limits, which could have toxic effects.

Some of the products listed on marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Tata 1mg and Snapdeal reportedly described the products as “Made in India”, while manufacturer or seller information was incomplete or obscured.

Why Are Mercury-Laced Face Creams Dangerous?

Also read: India’s Hidden Stillbirth Burden: Lancet Study Finds 2.2 Lakh Pregnancy Losses Missed By Current Reporting Method

The concern is particularly serious because mercury can be absorbed through the skin. Mercury is sometimes added illegally to skin-lightening products because it interferes with melanin production, producing a faster whitening effect. But the same process exposes users to a toxic heavy metal.

Dr. Surendra VHH, Senior Consultant - Dermatologist, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, spoke to HealthandMe about how long-term use of mercury-laced toxic cosmetics can cause harm.

He says, “The quick lightening effect may seem appealing, but it can come at a serious health cost. Mercury suppresses melanin production and may also cause rashes, skin thinning, sensitivity, and lasting pigmentation changes.”

Talking about the extreme side-effects of using these creams, he said that long-term exposure can allow mercury to accumulate in the body, particularly the kidneys. It has been associated with kidney damage, neurological problems and immune-system effects.

He says, “Mercury-laced skin-lightening creams are not harmless beauty products. Repeated use can expose the body to mercury, can get absorbed especially damaged unhealthy which may affect the kidneys and nervous system, causing symptoms such as headaches, weakness, numbness, tremors and changes in mood or memory. The risk is particularly concerning for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children because of its potential impact on neurological development.”

Also read: MIT Student Exposed To One Of The World’s Deadliest Chemicals: Why Is Dimethylmercury Toxic Even In Tiny Amounts

Agreeing with Dr Surendra, Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, Senior Consultant - Dermatology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon, told also HealthandMe that mercury-infused cosmetics come at a long-term health cost.

Warning about the same, she explained, “Prolonged exposure may damage the skin’s natural protective barrier, cause persistent discolouration, and allow mercury to accumulate in the body, potentially affecting the kidneys and nervous system. No promise of lighter skin is worth exposing yourself to a substance that can silently compromise your health.”

A 2024 study published in Kidney International found a strong association between prolonged use of mercury-containing skin-lightening creams and membranous nephropathy, a kidney disorder in which the filtering units of the kidneys become damaged and leak excessive amounts of protein into urine.

The World Health Organization has also warned that mercury exposure can severely affect the kidneys, brain and nervous system, and says there is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.

Indian Regulator Issues Alert

CDSCO has advised consumers not to purchase or use Goree Beauty Cream, Chandni Whitening Cream or similarly named products.

The regulator has also reminded consumers that imported cosmetics must have the required registration and that legally marketed products should carry details like the manufacturer's information, manufacturing license, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates and, for imported cosmetics, a registration number.

The warning comes after Maharashtra authorities separately banned Goree Beauty Cream following testing that found toxic mercury in the product. Officials had also received complaints involving users who developed kidney-related problems after prolonged use.

Cautioning the users, Dr Surendra said, “Consumers should be wary of products without a clear ingredient list, manufacturer details, batch information or regulatory information. Claims such as “instant whitening” or “herbal” do not automatically mean a product is safe. Anyone concerned about mercury exposure should stop using the product and consult a doctor, especially if symptoms such as tremors, swelling or changes in urination occur. Skin care should focus on healthy skin—not changing its natural colour through potentially harmful shortcuts.”