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.

CVS Pharmacy and its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to settle a US Department of Justice lawsuit alleging that the pharmacy chain unlawfully dispensed opioid prescriptions that were not needed medically.

The settlement, announced on October 13, also requires the company to implement safeguards against inappropriate and unnecessary dispensing.

Filed in December 2024, the lawsuit alleged that CVS dispensed prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, involved excessive quantities of opioids or were dispensed too early.

The government also alleged that the company filled prescriptions from so-called “pill mills”, suppliers who are accused of issuing large numbers of controlled-substance prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose. CVS has strongly disputed the allegations and denies any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The agreement resolves the civil claims without a determination of liability.

Unsafe Opioid Prescriptions Can Increase Addiction Risk

Also read: Why Is The US Fast Tracking Trials Of Ibogaine, A Schedule I Controlled Substance, Despite Safety Risks

Opioids are powerful medications used to treat moderate to severe pain. They include prescription drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine.

When prescribed appropriately and taken under medical supervision, they can provide important relief. However, their effects on the brain'can also lead to dependence and addiction issues.

Dependence and addiction are related but different. Physical dependence occurs when the body adapts to a medication. If stopped abruptly, one may experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

Opioid use disorder, commonly referred to as opioid addiction, involves a destructive pattern that can include cravings, loss of control and continued use despite harmful consequences.

The risk increases when these opioids are prescribed or taken in excessive doses or combined with other similar medicines. Taking more than prescribed can also increase the risk of overdose, which can slow or stop breathing and may be fatal.

The Justice Department's lawsuit alleged that CVS dispensed prescriptions for dangerous combinations of medicines, including “trinity” prescriptions combining an opioid, a benzodiazepine and a muscle relaxant. Such combinations can lead to a compounded sedation effect and respiratory depression, increasing the risk of serious harm.

In these cases, addiction becomes more than just a habit. These substances alter brain chemistry, particularly in the areas related to reward, motivation, and self-control. Hence, recovery is not simply about choosing to quit.

Addiction hijacks the brain’s prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for decision-making, self-control, and judgment. As a result, people suffering from addiction are often unable to regulate their behavior, even when they want to.

The brain’s reward system reinforces substance use by releasing dopamine, the chemical associated with pleasure and reward. Over time, the brain becomes dependent on this chemical surge, leading to tolerance (needing more of the substance to feel the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not available.

Also read: ‘Zombie’ Drug Medetomidine, Spotted In Heroin Supply, Raises Concern As It Could Evade Overdose Antidote

What Did The Lawsuit Allege?

According to the Justice Department, the alleged dispensing practices occurred between October 2013 and December 2025. The government claimed that staffing shortages, performance targets and incentive policies contributed to pharmacists filling prescriptions without adequately checking whether they were legitimate.

Many of the prescriptions were allegedly billed to federal healthcare programmes, including Medicare and Medicaid, prompting claims under the federal False Claims Act as well as the Controlled Substances Act.

“Today's settlement is a significant milestone in the Justice Department's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by cracking down on pharmacies who unlawfully fulfill prescriptions for controlled substances,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement.

CVS said its pharmacists were trained “in the safe and appropriate use of all medications” and that the company had introduced programmes to help them make appropriate decisions for patients.

Days after announcing that Pope Leo XIV will have surgery to have a lung nodule removed, he got a confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer. According to reports, he underwent surgery to have the lower lobe of his right lung removed.

The update comes as the 71-year-old pontiff's older brother, Louis Prevost, is undergoing treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma. The developments have brought attention to two different cancers affecting the papal family.

Pope Leo XIV's Lung Cancer Diagnosis

The pope underwent the procedure at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on October 13. According to the Vatican, tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in the cells lining the lungs.

The Vatican said in a medical bulletin, "The surgery was successful, and there were no complications."

The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes, and the pope subsequently returned to his hospital room. Pope Leo had announced on October 11 that doctors had discovered a lung nodule during routine medical examinations. He said the abnormality was detected early and that doctors recommended surgery to remove it.

"Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized," he said.

He added, “The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.”

The Vatican has not yet disclosed Pope Leo's cancer's stage or whether it has metastatised to other parts of the body. Further testing, including examination of the lymph nodes, will help doctors determine the extent of the disease and whether additional treatment is necessary.

Also read: Pope Leo XIV Will Undergo Lung Nodule Surgery: When Does Removal Become Necessary

What Is Lung Adenocarcinoma?

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer. It develops in glandular cells that produce substances like mucus. It is classified as a non-small cell lung cancer.

Although it is frequently linked with smoking, it can also occur in people who have never smoked. Other risk factors include exposure to radon, second-hand smoke and certain workplace carcinogens.

Symptoms may include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathlessness and unexplained weight loss. Early-stage disease may cause no noticeable symptoms but it can be detected through imaging and scans.

Treatment largely depends on the cancer's stage, location and characteristics of the tumour. Surgery to remove the affected portion of the lung is a common treatment strategy when the tumour is localised. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies may be considered depending on further findings.

In Pope Leo's case, the lower lobe of his right lung was removed. The results of further tests will help establish whether surgery alone is sufficient.

Also read: How Does Second-hand Smoke Exposure Increase The Risk Of Lung Cancer In People Who Have Never Smoked Themselves?

Pope's Brother Louis Prevost's Multiple Myeloma Relapsed

Meanwhile, the pope's older brother, Louis Prevost, is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. His wife, Deborah Prevost, told CBS News that he was first diagnosed in 2017.

Treatment in 2019, which included stem cell treatment and participation in a clinical trial, helped keep the disease at a "very low level".

However, she said he "fell out of remission" approximately three months ago. He is now participating in another clinical trial at a local hospital in Florida.

Multiple myeloma develops when abnormal plasma cells multiply in the bone marrow, interfering with normal blood cell production and damaging bones and kidneys.

Symptoms can include bone pain, fatigue, frequent infections, anaemia and kidney problems.

Unlike lung adenocarcinoma, which forms a solid tumour in lung tissue, multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. It is generally considered treatable but not usually curable, and the disease can return after periods of remission.

Speaking about the family's situation, Deborah said, "We keep praying, keeping spirits up for both of them."

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,300 deaths, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country's history. Meanwhile, Kenya has reported no new infections after testing 293 samples following its first confirmed case linked to the outbreak.

According to data released by Congo's public health institute on October 13, the country has recorded 9,066 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,381 deaths.

Health authorities continue to struggle to contain transmission across multiple hotspots in the country. The outbreak, declared in May 2026, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment yet. The epidemic has surpassed Congo's previous worst outbreak, which occurred between 2018 and 2020.

The outbreak is now the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally, after the 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Kenya Reports No New Cases

Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Ebola on October 6, after a Kenyan national who had travelled from Congo through Uganda died in Nairobi on October 5.

According to Health Minister Aden Duale, the patient fell ill about a month ago and was treated at several hospitals in the DRC before traveling to Nairobi. The patient died days after arriving in the Kenyan capital, according to Reuters.

Kenyan health authorities have placed the country on high alert and are monitoring for possible additional cases. At least 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers who cared for the patient, have been identified.

The country's Ministry of Health said on October 11 that 293 samples had been tested since the patient's death and no new infections were detected. The tests covered 289 alerts and only the initial confirmed case tested positive.

Authorities have continued contact tracing and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus. Kenya is also strengthening surveillance and public health measures to prevent further transmission.

Also read: Congo Ebola Cases Top 8,000; Deaths Near 4,000 As Treatment Delays Remain A Concern

A Challenging Outbreak

The spread of Ebola has been difficult to contain amid Congo's fragile healthcare infrastructure, insecurity, population movement and challenges in implementing response measures. Health officials are also concerned about transmission in communities outside treatment centres.

The outbreak has affected multiple provinces in eastern Congo, raising concerns about further international spread. Uganda previously reported cases linked to the epidemic but was declared Ebola-free in August.

Although Kenya's latest testing results offer some reassurance, authorities continue to monitor high-risk contacts.

What Is Bundibugyo Virus Disease?

READ: Can Obeldesivir Prevent Ebola Symptoms After Exposure? Drug Trial Moves Forward As Death Toll Crosses 4,000

Bundibugyo virus disease is a rare and deadly illness that has caused outbreaks in several African countries in the past.

It is distinctly different from other known ebolaviruses like the Zaire ebolavirus or Sudan ebolavirus. The 2007 outbreak, where Bundibugyo was detected for the first time, resulted in over 100 cases and was officially declared over in early 2008.

According to the US CDC, the Bundibugyo strain is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is infected with or has died from BVD.

It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment), or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, that are infected with BVD.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising (a late stage of illness).