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.

Delhi’s air pollution may be doing more than triggering respiratory problems and heart disease. A new review by Delhi University researchers suggests prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter could also affect the brain. It said that smog could lead to changes in the brain structure, memory, attention and other cognitive functions.

Researchers examined 129 peer-reviewed studies on the neurological effects of particulate matter and found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 may contribute to cognitive impairment and structural and functional changes in the brain.

The findings are particularly relevant for Delhi, where residents can face prolonged exposure to fine particles during periods of poor air quality.

PM2.5 May Reach The Brain Through Multiple Pathways

According to the review, some of these particles may also reach the central nervous system through the olfactory pathway in the nose.

Researchers also stated that air pollution can affect the blood-brain barrier, which normally helps prevent harmful substances in the bloodstream from reaching brain tissue.

Vandana Mishra, one of the researchers associated with the review, said, “Air pollution is no longer only a lung and heart problem; it is increasingly a brain-health problem.”

She added that research now links long-term particulate-matter exposure with cognitive decline, impaired neurodevelopment and biological processes linked with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Also read: Why Everyone Is Talking About 'Inflammaging'? The Silent Cause Of Premature Skin Ageing

Pollution Can Trigger Inflammation And Oxidative Stress

The review identified several biological pathways through which PM2.5 could affect the brain. Fine particles can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially damaging cells and their connections.

Researchers also noted effects on mitochondria, the structures responsible for producing energy inside cells.

Another concern involves immune cells within the brain. Persistent activation of these cells by pollution-related inflammation may affect neurons and their connections.

The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex could be particularly be affected as they play major roles in memory, learning, attention, planning and decision-making.

Also read: Air Pollution May Increase The Risk Of Painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Study Finds

Brain Structure May Also Be Affected

The review found evidence from neuroimaging studies suggesting that chronic exposure to air pollution may be associated with reductions in brain volume and cortical thickness, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Researchers also cited studies reporting changes in the hippocampus and disruptions in connections between different regions of the brain.

These findings do not mean that every person exposed to Delhi's pollution will develop brain disease. Instead, they indicate that long-term exposure may be associated with biological and cognitive changes that need to be investigated further.

Children And Young People Particularly Vulnerable

The review also raises concerns about exposure during childhood, when the brain is still developing. Researchers cited studies reporting differences in grey and white matter volumes among children exposed to air pollution, along with possible associations with attention, behaviour and cognitive development.

Early-life exposure may be particularly important as the brain undergoes rapid development during childhood, including the formation and strengthening of connections between nerve cells.

The researchers have cautioned against interpreting the findings as proof that Delhi's air pollution directly causes Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is set to receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo, an Ebola vaccine that was developed for a different strain of the virus that caused an outbreak more than a decade ago. As the country battles its deadliest Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus, latest updates suggest that the death toll has topped 2000.

The vaccine was allocated by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision. Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 will be used in a Phase 3 clinical trial to determine whether Ervebo can actually protect people against Bundibugyo. The remaining 50,000 doses will be given to frontline and healthcare workers.

Ervebo is licensed for Ebola virus caused by the Zaire strain. There is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for Bundibugyo virus disease.

Ervebo Was Designed To Combat Zaire Strain Of Ebola

It has since played an important role in controlling Ebola outbreaks caused by that virus. Additionally, WHO lists Ervebo as the only currently licensed vaccine for Ebola virus disease.

The problem in the current outbreak is that Bundibugyo is a different species of orthoebolavirus. That means it simply cannot be assumed that Ervebo can protect against the Bundibugyo virus.

Also read: Congo's Ebola Outbreak Is Spreading Fast But WHO Says It Can Still Be Contained In 3 Months

Early Studies Suggest Some Cross-Protection May Be Possible

If there is no certainty that Ervebo protects against Bundibugyo, then what is the scientific reason for its testing? To answer that question, WHO says early laboratory and animal studies suggest that the vaccine may provide some protection against Bundibugyo.

Some studies have also detected immune responses that cross-react with Bundibugyo virus after vaccination against Ebola virus.

WHO's guidance concluded that the available evidence was insufficient to determine or reliably estimate Ervebo's effectiveness against Bundibugyo.

Also read: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest In Country's History As Death Toll Hits 2,325

Upcoming Trial Could Help

WHO's Technical Advisory Group updated its recommendation in July and said Ervebo should be prioritised for inclusion in a Phase 3 research study because there is no Bundibugyo-specific vaccine currently ready for evaluation.

The trial could provide the first meaningful human evidence about whether vaccination with Ervebo prevents Bundibugyo infection or reduces severe disease.

WHO has also stressed that Ervebo should not be used as a routine Bundibugyo vaccination programme outside the research settings, because its effectiveness against the current strain remains unproven.

Why A Zaire Vaccine Is Being Used During A Bundibugyo Outbreak?

The decision comes down partly to urgency and the lack of alternatives. According to the CDC, the Bundibugyo outbreak in eastern DRC has spread rapidly, with 5,375 confirmed cases and 2,557 deaths.

The virus is also circulating in areas where conflict, displacement, and population movement have made contact tracing and outbreak control particularly difficult. Waiting for a completely new vaccine to be developed, tested and approved could take much longer.

Ervebo, meanwhile, is already widely used against Ebola virus. Testing whether it provides cross-protection could therefore offer a potentially faster way to contain the outbreak.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the vaccine allocation, calling it, “An important example of global solidarity in action.”

He said WHO and its partners remain committed to strengthening surveillance, rapid detection, quality care, community engagement and vaccination efforts to bring the outbreak under control.

Also read: Ebola Outbreak Is Claiming 1 Life Every 30 Minutes In DR Congo: UN Humanitarian Official

A Bundibugyo-Specific Vaccine Is Still Needed

Researchers are also working on vaccines specifically designed to target Bundibugyo. WHO says several candidates are under development, including approaches from IAVI and Oxford University, while other research groups are exploring vaccines designed to provide broader protection against multiple Ebola species.

Two vaccines specifically designed against Bundibugyo virus have entered Phase 1 safety trials in humans. CEPI-backed studies are also examining whether existing Ebola vaccines can generate immune responses against Bundibugyo, using blood samples from people who have previously received Zaire-targeting vaccines.

Louisiana health officials have confirmed a rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly called the “brain-eating amoeba,” in a resident who most likely contracted the infection after swimming in Lake Claiborne in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the case this week, issuing a warning to people entering warm freshwater. It is the fourth documented Naegleria fowleri infection in Louisiana since 1937.

The case comes as health officials continue to warn about the seasonal risk of the amoeba, which thrives in warm freshwater, particularly during the summer months. According to CDC data, most US cases occur in July and August.

The Amoeba Enters Through The Nose

From the nasal pathway, the organism can travel along the olfactory nerves into the brain and cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an infection that progresses rapidly and causes inflammation and destruction of brain tissue.

Swallowing contaminated water also does not cause Naegleria infection, and the infection cannot spread from one person to another.

Also read: Fournier Gangrene: Woman Develops Rare Flesh-eating Infection After Bikini Shave, Herbal Application

Louisiana Health Officials Warn People

Naegleria fowleri is naturally found in warm freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, as well as some hot springs and other warm-water environments.

According to CIDRAP, the amoeba can survive at temperatures as high as about 115°F (46°C). Cases are particularly linked with freshwater exposure during periods of high temperatures.

The risk remains extremely low despite its potentially devastating outcome. The CDC recorded 180 PAM cases in the US from 1937 through 2025, with cases ranging from zero to eight per year.

The LDH said recreational water users should not assume that warm freshwater is completely risk-free. “Though the risk of infection is low, recreational water users should always assume there is a risk when they enter warm fresh water.”

The department added that people can reduce their risk by preventing water from entering your enters the nose. That can include using nose clips or keeping the nose above water when swimming in warm freshwater.

Also read: Can You Contract Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacteria At The Beach? Louisiana Health Officials Warn Beachgoers

Symptoms Can Mimic Meningitis

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis can initially mimic other infections. Early symptoms can include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. As the infection progresses, patients can develop a stiff neck, confusion, problems with balance, seizures, hallucinations and loss of consciousness.

The illness progresses extremely quickly, with CDC data indicating that symptoms generally begin within 1 to 12 days after exposure. Death can occur within days after symptoms appear. As the disease is extremely rare and its early symptoms resemble other forms of meningitis, diagnosis can be challenging.

The Louisiana case follows another recent case in the state involving an 8-year-old Ruston girl, who was hospitalized after developing a Naegleria fowleri infection that health officials said may have been acquired while swimming in a North Louisiana lake.

Simple Precautions Can Reduce Exposure

The cases highlight the importance of taking precautions around warm freshwater during the summer, even though the overall probability of infection remains extremely small.

The CDC recommends avoiding activities in warm freshwater when possible, particularly during periods of high water temperatures. People who do enter such water can reduce exposure by using nose clips or keeping their head above water, and by avoiding stirring up sediment in shallow, warm areas.

Another important precaution concerns nasal rinsing. Naegleria can also be transmitted when contaminated tap water is used in devices such as neti pots. For nasal rinsing, the CDC recommends using distilled or sterile water, or water that has been boiled and cooled.