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.

The number of measles cases in Sweden linked to the Urkult Festival has climbed to 21, according to the latest data from the country’s Public Health Agency.

So far, all known cases have been directly linked to the festival, which took place from July 30 to August 2 in Näsåker, in Sollefteå municipality. The majority of those infected are children under 18 years of age, the report said.

Acting State Epidemiologist Erik Sturegård called the rapidly growing number of cases “very unusual” in Sweden, Sweden Herald reported. “It is a disease that can cause very serious illness, even in otherwise healthy children,” Sturegård said.

Why Sweden May Not Be At Risk Of A Major Outbreak

Also read: US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline, Exemptions Rise as Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High

Sweden’s childhood vaccination program includes the measles vaccine and has 95 percent coverage.

Sturegård said the high vaccination rate means Sweden may not currently be at risk of a major outbreak in the wider population.

However, unvaccinated people, as well as those with underlying conditions that may prevent the vaccine from providing adequate protection, remain at risk of serious illness.

Sturegård noted that most of those infected had not been vaccinated against measles.

“Even though we have 95 percent vaccination coverage in the childhood vaccination program, we have small pockets of people who, for various reasons, have not been reached by the vaccination, or who have chosen not to vaccinate themselves. Then you get a local minor outbreak very easily when measles is so extremely contagious,” Sturegård said.

Regions Reporting Measles Cases

The cases have been reported from the following regions:

• Jämtland Härjedalen
• Skåne
• Stockholm
• Västerbotten
• Gotland
• Värmland
• Västernorrland

Sweden Steps Up Contact Tracing

Read More: US Measles Cases Soars; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate Kids

Measles is highly contagious, making contact tracing time-critical. The Public Health Agency, which has overall responsibility for infectious disease control in Sweden, is in daily contact with the affected regions.

“We have daily meetings with the relevant infection control departments to keep a full overview of what is happening and be able to provide the support needed,” Sturegård said.

Measles Symptoms

Measles is an extremely contagious viral illness that spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.

The illness typically causes high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a characteristic rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward across the body.

Other symptoms can include sneezing and small white spots inside the mouth. Measles can cause serious and sometimes fatal complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.

Measles Cases Reported Across Europe

READ: Why Are 1.7 Million People Still Vulnerable To Measles Despite Australia’s Elimination Status?

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s latest July 2026 report, nine European countries reported 188 measles cases in June. The highest number of cases was reported by:

• Bulgaria: 102
• Italy: 41
• Belgium: 14
• Spain: 13

In the 12 months through June 30, 2026, 30 EU/EEA Member States reported a total of 2,472 measles cases.

Of these, 717 cases (29.0%) were among children under five years of age, while 1,261 (51.0%) were among people aged 15 years and older.

The highest notification rates were recorded among infants under one year of age, at 62.9 cases per million, followed by children aged 1–4 years, at 30.8 cases per million.

Among cases with known age and vaccination status, 1,602 (74.0%) were unvaccinated, 323 (14.9%) had received one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, and 198 (9.1%) had received two or more doses. Another 41 cases (1.9%) had an unknown number of vaccine doses.

Children living in London showed faster lung growth after the city introduced restrictions on traffic pollution, according to a new study.

Researchers observed more than 3,400 children aged 6 to 9 in London and Luton for five years, comparing lung development in the two locations. The study was led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Oxford and was published in The Lancet Public Health.

London introduced its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in 2019, initially covering central London. The scheme restricts older, more polluting vehicles by charging drivers whose vehicles do not meet emissions standards.

Children In London Initially Had Smaller Lungs

At the beginning of the study, children living in London had poorer lung function than those in Luton. Researchers then tracked the development of their lung as pollution levels changed following the introduction of the ULEZ.

The main measure was FEV1, or forced expiratory volume in one second. It measures how much air a person can forcefully breathe out in one second and is commonly used to assess lung function.

The London children's FEV1 increased by approximately 10 millilitres more per year than that of children in Luton.

By the end of the study, the difference in lung function between the two groups had largely disappeared.

Also read: Christy Knowings Dies At 46 After Asthma Attack: When Can It Turn Fatal?

Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Fell More Sharply In London

The improvement in children’s lung development coincided with a greater reduction in exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a pollutant strongly associated with vehicle exhaust, particularly from diesel engines.

Researchers found that children's exposure to NO₂ fell more than twice as much in London as in Luton during the study period.

There was also a reduction in the proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung function, from 14% to 9%. In Luton, the proportion fell from 9% to 7%.

Also read: Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Investigation In Toronto After 6 Cases Surface: What We Know

Researchers Were "Stunned" By How Quickly Children's Lungs Recovered

Professor Chris Griffiths, senior author of the study, said the speed of the improvement was unexpected. He said, “I was absolutely stunned when I first saw the results.”

He said the “speed of catch up in lung capacity” among London children was particularly striking and suggested that ambitious clean-air measures could help reverse some pollution-related effects on children's lungs.

Lead author Dr Helen Wood, a research fellow at Queen Mary University of London, said, "We already knew that the ULEZ reduced air pollution but now we know that children’s lung health has improved at the same time, which is a really important finding for children and parents living in London."

Damage To Lungs At Early Stage May Lead To Irreversible Damage

Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs and respiratory systems are still developing. Long-term exposure to traffic-related pollutants has previously been associated with reduced lung growth.

If children fail to reach their expected lung capacity during development, it may potentially increase their vulnerability to respiratory problems like asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, as well as early death.

Reducing exposure to pollution while lungs are still developing could help with growth. The researchers credit improved air quality, associating it with the introduction of ULEZ and better lung development. However, the study cannot prove that ULEZ alone caused improvement.

Other factors may have changed during the five-year period, including travel habits, physical activity, and pollution levels unrelated to the emissions zone. The COVID-19 pandemic also dramatically changed traffic and pollution patterns during part of the study period.

A 17-year-old high school student from Pennsylvania has developed a blood test for detecting pancreatic cancer. Its early testing indicated it correctly identified 87% of patients with the disease.

Audrey Zheng, a senior at North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania, developed the test as part of her bioengineering research. Her work focuses on detecting tiny tumour-derived particles circulating in the blood, potentially offering a less invasive way of identifying pancreatic cancer.

In clinical testing, the method correctly identified 87% of people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and correctly ruled out the disease in 87.5% of people who did not have it.

Her research has earned her a place as a national finalist in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, one of the major science competitions for US high school students.

Audrey Zheng's Blood Test Uses Tiny Tumour-Derived Particles

The blood testdeveloped by Audrey Zheng uses tiny magnetic beads to separate tumour-derived particles from blood samples.

These particles can carry biological information released by cancer cells. Zheng's research then focuses on analysing genetic mutations within this material to identify pancreatic cancer in patients.

The milestone is noteworthy as pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early. Many patients do not develop obvious symptoms until the disease has already advanced, reducing the chances of successful treatment.

Also read: Moderna and Merck’s Custom-Made mRNA Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise In Late-Stage Melanoma Trial

Early Detection Is A Major Challenge In Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer. There is currently no standard screening test for pancreatic cancer for people at average risk.

Researchers have therefore been exploring blood-based biomarkers, imaging techniques, and artificial intelligence tools that could identify the disease earlier.

Although Zheng's work is still at the research stage and would require much larger independent studies and trials before it could be considered for clinical use.

Also read: Why Flight Attendants, Pilots Face Higher Risk Of Radiation-Linked Cancer Deaths Than Other Occupations?

A Significant Milestone

The reported 87% figure refers to sensitivity, meaning the proportion of people with pancreatic cancer whom the test correctly identified. Its reported ability to correctly rule out cancer was 87.5%.

Current diagnosis methods for pancreatic cancer involve imaging scans, endoscopic procedures, and tissue sampling, depending on the patient's symptoms and clinical situation. A blood test would be much less invasive and could potentially be easier to repeat.

Researchers around the world are already investigating this area. For example, Harvard researchers have developed artificial intelligence approaches that can identify people at increased risk of pancreatic cancer years before diagnosis using clinical information.

Zheng's work takes a different route by looking for molecular signals associated with the tumour directly in blood. The reported results are encouraging, but the method would need extensive validation before doctors could use it routinely.

Researchers would need to establish its accuracy across larger populations and determine whether it can reliably detect pancreatic cancer at stages when treatment is most effective.