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.

There has been a long-running belief that COVID-19 vaccines are behind sudden deaths in young adults. Posts circulating on social media and unverified online claims have repeatedly linked vaccination to sudden collapses, heart attacks, or unexpected deaths, particularly among people aged 18 to 45 who seemed otherwise healthy.

These claims have caused anxiety among families, despite the absence of solid scientific backing. A new study published by AIIMS now brings much-needed clarity on whether COVID vaccines have any connection to sudden deaths in young adults.

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AIIMS Study Finds No Link Between Covid Vaccination And Sudden Deaths In Adults

Worries around sudden deaths in young adults have increased in recent years, especially in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic. Speculation blaming COVID vaccines gained traction across platforms, adding to public concern. However, fresh findings from a study carried out by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, offer a clear answer. After examining detailed autopsy reports, researchers concluded that underlying heart disease, and not COVID-19 vaccination, is the leading cause of sudden deaths in younger individuals.

Heart Problems Leading Cause Among Deaths In Young People

The AIIMS study found that heart-related conditions were responsible for 42.6 per cent of sudden deaths among people aged 18 to 45 years. Within this group, heart attacks accounted for nearly 85 per cent of cardiac-related deaths. Other contributing factors included structural abnormalities of the heart, congenital defects, and inflammation of the heart muscle. Respiratory illnesses made up around 21.3 per cent of sudden deaths, with choking, pneumonia, and tuberculosis emerging as the main causes. In close to one-fifth of the cases, doctors were unable to determine the exact cause of death.

No Evidence Linking Deaths To Covid Or Vaccines

Crucially, the researchers observed no meaningful rise in sudden deaths among individuals who had previously contracted COVID-19 or received the vaccine. Of the cases analysed, only 4.3 per cent had a history of COVID infection, while 82.8 per cent had been vaccinated. Dr Sudheer Arava, Professor of Pathology at AIIMS, explained that the year-long study reviewed nearly 100 cases and found no signs of vaccine-related complications, with just one instance of myocarditis reported. The findings also pointed to differences across age groups.

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Among those aged 46 to 65, nearly three-quarters of sudden deaths were linked to heart disease, while unexplained deaths were far fewer. Notably, the proportion of women among sudden deaths was higher in the younger age group than among older adults. The study carries weight as it directly challenges claims blaming COVID-19 vaccines for sudden deaths.

Doctors emphasise that lifestyle-related issues such as unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and chronic stress continue to play a major role in heart disease among younger people. This, they say, highlights the importance of early prevention and regular health screenings. Dr Arava also urged the public to rely on credible scientific information and steer clear of misinformation that could erode trust in proven public health measures, including vaccination.

zDelhi woke up again to a yet another thick smoggy morning, with visibility dropping low. On Monday morning, the city's average air quality index or AQI stood at 'severe' category for the third consecutive day. As of 6am, the data from the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi stood at 457. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at least four stations, including Ashok Vihar, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, Wazirpur, recorded AQI of 500 at 7am.

As of 10am on Monday morning, Delhi stood at 480, Noida at 551, Greater Noida at 568, Gurugram at 454, Faridabad at 546, and Ghaziabad at 569, all under 'severe' category.

As a result, the Commission for Air Quality Management has issued directives to Delhi and NCR state governments on Sunday, December 14. The directives suggest for an immediate halt on all outdoor physical sports activity. This move has come after concerns were raised around schools that are still continuing outdoor activities despite poor air quality.

Amid this, a Lancet study also revealed that 15 lakh annual deaths in India are due to long-term exposure to air pollution. The particulate matter or PM2.5 found in air pollution is linked to many health issues. Since the particles are so small in size, it could easily penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and cause serious health impacts. However, despite the global studies highlighting the country's ever-growing pollution problem, the Centre stated that "there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation if death/disease exclusively due to air pollution."

What Does The Lancet Study Say About Air Pollution And Health?

The comprehensive Lancet study conducted an analysis from 2009 to 2019, and measured the consequence of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter or PM2.5.

The study estimated: “1·5 million deaths occurred annually due to long-term exposure to PM2·5 in India every year in excess of the 5 μg/m3 that is recommended by the WHO ambient air quality guidelines.”

The study noted that every 10μg/m³ increase in annual PM2·5 concentration was associated with an 8.6 pc higher risk of all-cause mortality.

Using India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, researchers estimate that about 3.8 million deaths between 2009 and 2019 were linked to PM2.5 exposure. When WHO guidelines were applied, the number rose sharply to 16.6 million, nearly one-fourth of all deaths in the country. The analysis relied on advanced causal methods and high-resolution models that mapped district-level PM2.5 exposure across India, while accounting for factors such as socioeconomic status, age distribution, and indoor air pollution.

These findings are backed by a 2017 time-series study from Delhi that examined the short-term impact of air pollution on deaths from natural causes. The researchers pointed out that studies worldwide have consistently shown a clear link between common urban air pollutants and harmful health effects. Despite Delhi’s well-documented air quality crisis, they noted that limited local evidence on how specific pollutants affect health had long slowed meaningful policy action.

Different Pollutants Impact Different Age Groups

To bridge this gap, the study analyzed data from 2008 to 2010, focusing on key pollutants: particulate matter under 10 micrometres (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). Using a semi-parametric regression model that adjusted for non-linear factors such as time trends, temperature, and humidity, the researchers found strong links between short-term exposure to both particulate and gaseous pollutants and daily all-cause mortality.

They estimated that every 10 μg/m³ rise in PM10 levels was associated with a 0.14 per cent increase in all-cause deaths. Among gaseous pollutants, NO2 had the strongest impact, with a 1 per cent rise in mortality for every 10 μg/m³ increase in daily concentration. Ozone and carbon monoxide also showed significant effects, even after accounting for NO2 levels. The analysis that was done based on age also revealed that particulate matter affected older adults aged 65 and above. Whereas, gaseous pollutants had a greater impact on people aged 5 to 44.

Overall, the researchers concluded that the evidence clearly reinforces the link between poor ambient air quality and increased all-cause mortality.