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.

India must move beyond treating hemophilia—a genetic bleeding disorder—only after bleeding episodes and focus on preventing bleeding and its complications, health experts said at the UP-Hemophilia Conclave 2026.

Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder where blood does not clot properly, even for minor injuries. It is caused by an error in a specific gene on the X chromosome, leading to a deficiency or absence of clotting factors.

The country has the world's second-largest population of people with hemophilia, who experience spontaneous and traumatic bleeding due to low or very low levels of clotting factors.

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) reported nearly 28,000 diagnosed and registered Persons with Hemophilia (PwH) in India as of 2026, including more than 24,000 with Hemophilia A. However, the estimated prevalence could be as high as 1,36,000, suggesting many cases may remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In Uttar Pradesh, around 7,700 PwH are diagnosed, including approximately 5,500 with Hemophilia A.

Although India has expanded access to modern diagnosis and treatment, including gene therapy trials and non-factor therapies (NFTs) such as emicizumab, experts said preventive care needs to be strengthened.

Experts Call For Shift To Preventive Care

Also read: Why India Must Shift Towards Prophylaxis Care For Hemophilia

Hemophilia patients should be able to lead normal lives and be managed like people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, with regular replacement treatment to prevent complications, said Prof A. K. Tripathi, Clinical Hematologist and former Director, RMLIMS, Lucknow.

“At present, patients largely rely on reactive treatment, where therapy is given only after a bleeding episode. This approach is neither appropriate nor effective. They do not just need treatment when they bleed; they need treatment that prevents bleeding in the first place. The only way forward is to start prophylaxis,” he said.

Why Is Prophylaxis Important?

Repeated joint bleeding can cause lasting damage, making it difficult to walk and, in severe cases, leaving patients chair-bound or bed-bound.

Regular replacement treatment, or prophylaxis, can protect joints and muscles and improve quality of life, said Dr S. P. Verma, Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Hematology, King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow.

“Preventive treatment through regular replacement therapy (prophylaxis) has emerged as the global standard of care. This changing treatment landscape presents an opportunity to strengthen preventive care and improve long-term outcomes for patients,” said Dr Nita Radhakrishnan, Professor and HOD, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Post Graduate Institute of Child Health (PGICH), Noida.

Access And Availability Remains A Concern

Read More: Type 2 Diabetes Affects Men And Women Differently, New PLOS Study Finds

Vineet Manchanda, Secretary, Hemophilia Society, Lucknow, and Manoj, Hemophilia Federation of India (HFI) North and Agra Chapter, flagged that “Factor VIII, a clotting factor that can prevent bleeding in Hemophilia patients, is very expensive, and the government hospital’s supply is erratic, making availability a major issue".

They also stressed the importance of physiotherapy alongside newer therapies such as prophylaxis.

The experts also highlighted the financial burden of complications, including costly knee or hip replacement surgeries.

Access remains a major concern, with many patients travelling long distances for treatment. “Despite the resources, manpower and factors being invested, we are not achieving the desired results,” Prof Tripathi said.

Experts also called for better use of available budgets to identify and support patients who need treatment the most.

Organized under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Hematology Group (UPHG), the UP-Hemophilia Conclave 2026 was held in Lucknow under the theme ‘Uniting Care. Improving Lives.’ It brought together hematologists, physicians, researchers, pathologists, healthcare professionals from hemophilia treatment centers, policymakers and patient groups.

Days after a rare cancer cluster in California's Ladera Ranch made headlines, another revelation has added to the mystery. An unusual number of children and young adults got diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.

According to Los Angeles Times, between 2013 and 2024, at least six cases of Ewing sarcoma surfaced, leaving the families of patients knee-deep in questions.

According to the American Cancer Society, the cancer is so rare that only 200 children and teenagers are diagnosed in the United States every year.

Mystery Behind Rare Cancer Cluster In Ladera Ranch Deepens

Just when the families of patients were looking for answers, another layer of mystery unraveled after a couple of 20-year-old handwritten notes emerged, signaling towards a probable cause behind the cancer cases.

The notes talk about an oil well at the site. According to The New York Post, the notes appear twice on the Department of Conservation permit, and state, "This well is not to be built over without further considerations."

State oil and gas supervisor William F Guerard Jr, acting state oil and gas supervisor Kenneth Henderson and deputy supervisor RK Baker signed the final report after the well was sealed on February 26, 2002.

The memos warning that no structures must be constructed above the well were reportedly written by engineer Floyd Leeson. They do not reveal why such a warning about the well was issued. Another note had an arrow pointing at the message, with the phrase: "Put on final letter."

According to Los Angeles Times, Henderson could not recall why such a warning was issued, although he believes the way the well was sealed might not be "up to the current standards." Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation said that the notes could have been a "clerical error."

Also read: Cancer Should Be Made Notifiable In India, Say Experts: Here’s Why

A Cancer So Rare That The Cases Caught Attention

Symptoms can initially be easy to dismiss because they may resemble a sports injury or ordinary growing pains. They include persistent bone pain, swelling or a lump, unexplained fever, fatigue or a bone that breaks after relatively minor trauma can sometimes signal the disease.

The cancer can metastasize quickly, which is why persistent or unexplained symptoms need medical evaluation.

Also read: New Clinical Trial Shows Promise In Non-Surgical Treatment Of Early-Stage Rectal Cancer

Can Environmental Factors Contribute To Ewing Sarcoma Risk?

Documents related to the abandonment of an old oil well reportedly contain a handwritten warning from about 20 years ago regarding the development of the site. This prompted fresh questions about what was known about the land before the modern community was built.

There are also concerns about possible pesticide and herbicide exposure, with residents previously urging authorities to investigate environmental factors.

However, none of these potential exposures have been shown to cause the Ewing sarcoma cases in Ladera Ranch. Even though doctors are concerned, they are of the opinion that environmental factors cannot be solely tied to Ewing sarcoma.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of mangoes sold at Walmart in at least four states because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

New York-based Panorama Produce "is recalling 302 boxes of size 9 mangoes because they may be contaminated with Salmonella", according to the recall notice.

Recall Issued In Which States?

The mangoes were sold at select Walmart stores in four states:

• Connecticut,
• New Jersey,
• New York
• Pennsylvania.

How To Identify The Recalled Mangoes?

Also read: US FDA Recalls Injectables Over Fiberglass, Steel Particles: See Affected Drugs

The company said that the recalled mangoes are packaged in a Martina-branded case.

Individual mangoes can be identified by a light blue sticker bearing the labels Agrofepac, Produce of Mexico, PLU number 4584 and UPC 07503061948050.

Why Were The Mangoes Recalled?

The recall was initiated after FDA sampling found Salmonella in mangoes grown on the same farm, although those sampled mangoes were not distributed into US commerce.

The recalled mangoes and the sampled mangoes share the same source. Therefore, Panorama Produce initiated the recall. The company, however, stated that no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the recalled product.

What To Do If You Have The Recalled Mangoes?

Read More: From Dog Food To Fruit Bars: Over 10 Products Recalled In US Over Contamination

The company advised consumers to use the product identifiers above to determine whether their mangoes are included in the recall.

Consumers who have the recalled mangoes should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone who believes they may have become ill should contact a healthcare provider.

Food Recalls In The US

Food safety has become a serious concern in the US in recent months, with a large number of products recalled over contamination, bacterial infections and other health risks.

The recalls involve food products ranging from rice and donuts to eggs and fruit bars, among a host of other products.

Experts blamed federal funding cuts under the Trump administration, which reduced budgets for food inspections by federal agencies and grants to state and local health departments that conduct traceback investigations to determine where outbreaks originate.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that commonly causes diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness. Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell or taste spoiled.

Common Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Vomiting
• Fever.

Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Most people recover without medical treatment. However, children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may develop serious illness requiring medical care.

The bacteria can spread by eating contaminated food, through contact with contaminated environments or from person to person.

How To Stay Safe

Health officials have advised consumers to follow recall instructions and avoid eating affected products.

• Refrigerate items promptly
• Cook food products thoroughly
• Wash your hands
• Sanitize surfaces
• Check for recalls
• Wash food before use.