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.

A sexually transmitted form of Shigella, a highly contagious bacterium that causes severe diarrhea, is spreading rapidly among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the UK, according to a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, found that sexually transmitted Shigella strains are spreading faster than non-sexually transmitted strains and evolving resistance to key antibiotics at an alarming rate.

“Many men who have sex with men are unaware of the serious and increasing risk posed by sexually transmitted Shigella,” said Professor Kate Baker, senior author of the study from Cambridge’s Department of Genetics.

“Sexual infection is now a sustained part of Shigella transmission in the UK. It is vital that this message reaches the communities most affected, so we can help to prevent the spread,” Baker said.

“Sexually transmissible shigellosis needs to be treated as a distinct public health threat, requiring different surveillance, prevention, and treatment strategies.”

What Did The Study Find?

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Using genomic sequencing techniques similar to those used to track COVID-19 variants, researchers mapped how Shigella bacteria spread and evolved across the UK. The study, conducted in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), analyzed 3,514 laboratory-confirmed Shigella samples collected across the UK between 2004 and 2020 from people aged 16 years and older.

Sexually transmitted Shigella spread significantly faster than strains acquired through food, travel, or other non-sexual routes.

Over an evolutionary period of about 2.5 years, sexually transmitted strains spread an average of 117 km between related cases, compared with 46 km for non-sexually transmitted strains.

Sexually transmitted Shigella is primarily circulating within GBMSM sexual networks, particularly in major cities including London, Brighton and Manchester.

No statistically significant increase was seen among non-GBMSM populations, and little evidence was found that infections are spreading widely beyond these sexual networks.

More than half of all Shigella infections in the UK are now sexually transmitted.

Around 30% are linked to international travel, while the remaining cases result from localized outbreaks, particularly among young children, and household transmission.

How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Shigella

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Professor Baker recommended the following steps to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted Shigella:

• Avoid sexual activity if you have diarrhea or are recovering from a recent diarrheal illness.
• Wait at least two weeks after you have fully recovered before resuming sexual activity.
• Tell your doctor about your sexual history if you seek medical care for diarrhea or related symptoms.
• Ask for a comprehensive sexual health screening if you may have been exposed.

Growing Antibiotic Resistance Raises Concern

Researchers found that antibiotic-resistant sexually transmitted Shigella strains are spreading 71% faster than drug-susceptible strains. More than 70% of sexually transmitted Shigella strains were resistant to at least one clinically important antibiotic.

“This isn’t just one form of sexually transmissible diarrhea. This is multiple overlapping variants emerging that are all quickly becoming resistant to the drugs we use to treat them,” said Baker. “It’s highly likely that if you contracted your Shigella through sex you require different treatment to someone who contracted it through travel.”

Researchers also believe the rise in resistance may partly be driven by antibiotics prescribed to treat or prevent other sexually transmitted infections.

“Our evidence suggests that the variants of Shigella transmitting in sexual networks were actually getting resistant against treatments for other STIs, like gonorrhoea, so people need to remember that when they’re taking antibiotics they’re treating their whole body,” said Baker.

The Trump administration recently launched an initiative, encouraging hospitals across the United States to improve the quality of the meals they serve in terms of nutrition.

Launching the voluntary initiative aimed at making healthier meals more accessible to patients, visitors, and healthcare workers, the announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

About ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier’ Pledge

The initiative, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is part of Trump administration's “Make Hospital Food Healthier” pledge.

Hospitals that participate commit to offering more nutritious food and beverage options, increasing transparency around nutritional information, and creating food environments that better support long-term health.

Health officials say hospitals should set an example by promoting healthy eating rather than offering meals and snacks that are high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.

HHS said while announcing the initiative, “Healthcare facilities should reflect the same evidence-based nutrition principles they encourage patients to follow after they leave the hospital.”

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Under the voluntary pledge, participating hospitals are encouraged to:

• Increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and minimally processed and plant-based protein options.
• Include vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, seafood, and healthy fats.
• Reduce the prominence of sugary drinks and ultra-processed snacks.
• Use baked, broiled, roasted, stir-fried, or grilled preparation methods and avoid deep frying.
• Make healthier meals easier to identify through nutrition labeling and clear menu information.
• Improve cafeteria and vending machine offerings for employees and visitors.
• Incorporate nutrition into overall patient wellness and recovery plans.

The administration says these changes will help create healthier food environments while supporting the prevention of chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The Goal Behind

Millions of Americans eat meals in hospitals each year, whether as patients, family members, or healthcare workers. Public health experts have always argued that hospitals should encourage eating habits instead of relying heavily on processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Improving hospital food can also benefit healthcare staff, who often work long shifts and depend on hospital cafeterias and vending machines for meals.

The initiative supports the idea that nutrition plays a significant role in preventing and managing chronic illnesses, which remain one of the leading causes of death and healthcare spending in the United States.

The HHS pledge is voluntary, meaning hospitals are not required to participate. Instead, the department is encouraging health systems to adopt healthier food standards as part of their commitment to patient care and community health.

Officials say hospitals that join the pledge can help reinforce healthy lifestyle choices beyond clinical treatment by making nutritious foods more readily available throughout their facilities.

While the program does not mandate specific dietary standards, it represents another step in Trump administration's broader effort to promote healthier eating environments within healthcare settings.

As more hospitals sign on, health officials hope the initiative will have a positive impact on how healthcare institutions approach nutrition, turning hospitals into places that support healthy choices both inside and outside the examination room.

Paxlovid, the oral antiviral used to treat COVID-19, appears to be safe and well-tolerated in children aged 6 years and older, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, Paxlovid is safe for children who weigh at least 44 pounds who have mild to moderate COVID-19 but are at risk of developing severe disease. The drug did not cause any serious safety concerns.

Paxlovid was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults in 2023 and is currently authorized for children 12 years and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). The new findings suggest the treatment could also be appropriate for younger children, although the study does not represent a new FDA approval for children aged 6 to 11 years.

What Are The Key Findings

The Pfizer-led study enrolled 75 children aged 6 to 17 years, all of whom received at least one dose of Paxlovid. Participants were divided into two dosing groups based on body weight.

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Researchers found that:

• Both dosing regimens were safe and well tolerated.

• No serious adverse events were reported.

• About 90 per cent of participants achieved blood concentrations associated with antiviral activity in adults.

• No child was hospitalized or died from COVID-19 during the study.

• No participant discontinued treatment because of side effects.

The most commonly reported side effects were:

• Diarrhea (4 per cent)

• Headache (4 per cent)

The researchers concluded that the pediatric dosing regimens produced drug exposures similar to adults while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

"Given the continued burden of disease in pediatric patients, even in a post-pandemic era, a convenient outpatient oral treatment option for preventing severe disease in individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 continues to be an unmet medical need," the authors wrote.

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How Paxlovid Works

Paxlovid is a combination of two medicines:

• Nirmatrelvir, which blocks a key viral enzyme needed for SARS-CoV-2 to replicate.

• Ritonavir, which slows the breakdown of nirmatrelvir in the body, allowing it to remain effective for longer.

Clinical trials in adults have shown that Paxlovid remains one of the most effective outpatient treatments for people at high risk of severe COVID-19.

In a pivotal placebo-controlled trial:

• 9 of 977 people who received Paxlovid within five days of symptom onset were hospitalized, and none died.

• In the placebo group, 64 of 989 people were hospitalized, and 12 died from any cause.

Overall, Paxlovid reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death by 86 per cent in high-risk adults.

Possible Side effects

The FDA first granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid in 2021.

Known side effects include:

• Altered or metallic taste (dysgeusia)

• Diarrhea

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

The medication can also interact with several commonly used medicines, including statins, making it important for patients to discuss all current medications with their healthcare provider before starting treatment, the FDA said.