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.

After Rajasthan and Hyderabad, Chhattisgarh today reported three suspected cases of Ebola involving foreign nationals.

According to media reports, the three have been isolated in Durg and placed under a 21-day quarantine as a precaution.

Chhattisgarh Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal announced that the state is fully prepared to handle any potential Ebola virus infection, stressing that hospitals and quarantine facilities have been put on alert and necessary arrangements are in place to ensure public safety.

Speaking to reporters, Jaiswal said the three individuals under observation were nationals from African countries and were being monitored in line with health protocols.

He added that no Ebola infection had been confirmed so far and that none of the individuals were showing symptoms of the disease.

"We have been fully prepared across the state at every level for a month now. The three individuals placed in isolation in Durg are nationals from African countries and have been quarantined for 21 days as a precautionary measure. So far, tests have not confirmed the presence of the virus, nor are they exhibiting any symptoms," he said.

Two Suspected Cases In Hyderabad

Earlier, two people in Hyderabad who returned from Sudan were isolated.

A Sudanese national, a student in his 20s, with a fever, was admitted to the state-run Gandhi Hospital. The student's condition improved, and he had no fever on Friday morning. His attendant was advised to stay in isolation at home, according to media reports.

Also read: WHO Says Ebola Fight Is Catching Up; Expert Explains Science Behind Patient Recoveries

Another Sudanese national, who arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport a day earlier, was also shifted to the isolation ward of Gandhi Hospital for further tests after he was found to have a fever during thermal screening at the airport. The 35-year-old, who had come to Hyderabad for knee surgery, had no fever as of Friday morning and was asymptomatic, officials said.

Samples containing oral and nasal swabs have been collected and will be sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) for testing. Test reports of both individuals are awaited.

Rajasthan Woman Isolated

Meanwhile, Rajasthan has also isolated one woman who returned from Uganda following symptoms.

During routine health screening at the airport, she exhibited symptoms associated with Ebola infection. The health department was immediately informed, and she was placed under special observation.

While she has displayed symptoms similar to Ebola infection, confirmation can only be made after laboratory testing. The results are awaited.

No Ebola Case Reported In India

Read More: Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak: WHO Identifies Experimental Treatments, Vaccines

All suspected cases have been linked to travel to Ebola-affected countries such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan.

"No Ebola disease cases have been reported in India," the Health Ministry said in its latest update on June 3. The Health Ministry has also advised travelers arriving from Ebola-affected countries, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to remain alert for symptoms and seek medical guidance if they feel unwell.

"For information, guidance, and assistance, call MoHFW's 24x7 Health Helpline: 1075," the ministry said on X.

Ebola: A Global Health Emergency

On May 17, the World Health Organization classified the Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

A total of 452 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 82 deaths. Uganda has reported 16 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases has fallen from more than 1,000 last week to 116 as health teams work through the backlog. Six people in the DRC and two in Uganda have recovered to date.

After previously warning that Ebola was "outpacing us," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that "we are catching up" as efforts to contain the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo show progress.

A total of 452 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 82 deaths. Uganda has reported 16 confirmed cases. Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases has fallen from more than 1,000 last week to 116 as health teams work through the backlog.

WHO Sees Signs of Progress

“What I saw gave me hope,” Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.

“The outbreak had a big head start, and we're still behind, but under the leadership of the Government of DRC, we are catching up,” he added.

Importantly, he noted that six people in the DRC and two in Uganda have recovered to date, “showing that people can survive Ebola if they have access to care and go to health facilities as soon as they show symptoms.”

Why Are Patients Recovering?

The latest outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently neither a vaccine nor an antiviral treatment. So how are patients recovering?

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National IMA COVID Task Force and Past President of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told HealthandMe that a combination of factors—including the virus strain, access to medical care, and individual immune responses—can significantly influence whether a patient survives the disease.

Ebola virus disease is a severe illness caused by different strains of the Ebola virus. The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which has a lower mortality rate than the more lethal Zaire strain responsible for several previous outbreaks, he said.

“The mortality of Ebola virus disease is tied to several components,” Dr. Rajeev explained.

Early Medical Care Improves Survival

One of the most important factors is access to early medical attention and supportive care. Patients who receive prompt treatment at well-equipped healthcare facilities staffed by experienced healthcare workers have a much greater chance of survival.

However, such healthcare access is often limited in outbreak-affected regions of Africa due to ongoing conflicts and socioeconomic challenges.

“The chance of survival is much higher if a person receives good medical attention and early supportive care,” he said.

Bundibugyo Strain vs Zaire Strain

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Strain: All You Should Know About The Rare Virus

The strain of the virus also plays a critical role. Dr. Rajeev said that because the Bundibugyo strain is less lethal than the Zaire strain, more infected individuals are expected to survive under similar conditions.

“If a hundred people get infected with the Zaire strain and another hundred with the Bundibugyo strain, more people in the Bundibugyo group will survive, all other conditions remaining the same,” he said.

Difference In Immune Response

Another important factor is the body's immune response, which varies from person to person. Dr. Rajeev highlighted the role of human leukocyte antigens (HLA), proteins that help the immune system recognize and respond to invading pathogens. Because each individual's HLA profile is unique, people infected with the same virus can generate different immune responses.

“HLA works closely with the immune system by presenting pieces of the virus to immune cells, helping the body build a targeted response,” he said.

Also read: Ebola Alert In India: Rajasthan, Hyderabad Report Suspected Cases of Deadly Virus

This biological diversity is one reason why the same infection can affect individuals differently. It is also considered an evolutionary safeguard that helps prevent a single pathogen from devastating the entire human population.

The Role of Probability

Dr. Rajeev also pointed to a simple statistical reality. “If the mortality rate in the current outbreak is around 30 per cent, that means about 70 per cent of infected individuals are expected to survive,” he said.

According to the expert, survival often results from a combination of favorable factors, including infection with a less lethal strain, timely medical care, a strong immune response, and the overall probability of recovery within a given outbreak.

The UK National Health Service (NHS) has approved the free rollout of a breakthrough ovarian cancer drug, benefiting hundreds of women with hard-to-treat cancer starting today.

Importantly, the US FDA-approved drug is the first new addition to NHS treatment for this group of patients in over 20 years.

The last major NHS treatment introduced for these patients was the rollout of liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel in the early 2000s.

The NHS, in a statement, said that the new targeted therapy, mirvetuximab soravtansine, will be offered to patients living with ovarian cancer whose disease has stopped responding to standard (platinum-based) chemotherapy, providing new hope of extra time to live.

Mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) has been developed by AbbVie. The NHS estimates up to 400 patients in England each year could benefit.

“This represents the most significant breakthrough in NHS treatment for these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers in over two decades – and we’re delighted it will now offer hundreds of women much-needed hope of precious extra time with their loved ones,” said Professor Ruth Plummer, NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs.

How Does The Drug Work?

According to the NHS, the drug combines a ‘homing’ antibody with a cancer-killing medicine, often described by scientists as a ‘biological missile’ or ‘Trojan horse’ therapy.

It works by attaching to ovarian cancer cells that have a protein called folate receptor alpha (FRα) on their surface, before releasing a cancer-killing molecule that destroys the cell from within.

In a major global clinical trial involving eight NHS hospitals, the treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival, with patients living 16.5 months on average compared to 12.8 months with chemotherapy.

Also read: New Pancreatic Cancer Drug Daxaronrasib May Benefit Patients With Lung And Ovarian Tumors Too

Who Can Avail The Drug Through The NHS?

Following a recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the treatment will be available for:

• patients with epithelial ovarian cancer,
• peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer that has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy
• whose tumors contain the FRα protein targeted by the drug.

The treatment is given intravenously (via a drip) over two to four hours, once every three weeks.

Are There Any Side Effects?

The NHS stated that the drug may also have more tolerable side effects than traditional chemotherapy, as it is aimed more precisely at cancer cells than chemotherapy, which can also harm healthy cells.

Common side effects include:

• Eye problems such as blurred vision or dry eyes
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Low blood counts

Most side effects are manageable with monitoring and supportive care.

Read More: Alan Brazil Shares Survival Story After Heart Stopped During Liver Transplant

Ovarian Cancer Remains A Major Health Challenge

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death from gynecological cancer worldwide. In the UK, there are around 7,500 new diagnoses each year.

Standard treatment for ovarian cancer typically involves surgery and chemotherapy, but around 80 per cent of patients with advanced disease relapse, and most eventually develop resistance to chemotherapy.

More than a third of patients (37 per cent) treated with mirvetuximab soravtansine also saw their tumors shrink by at least 30 per cent, compared to 16 per cent of patients receiving chemotherapy in clinical trials.