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.

One in seven Indians, or over 14 percent of the population, suffers from some form of mental health disorder. Amid an increasing treatment gap -- up to 90 percent -- seen in several states, especially in North India, the government today reiterated the plan of launching a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in the northern states.

NIMHANS-2 was first announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2026-27, to deliver specialized care for mental health and neurological disorders in north India.

Health experts and policymakers, as part of the government-led Post-Budget Webinar series, highlighted the growing burden of mental and neurological disorders in India and also stressed the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity to meet emerging healthcare demands.

"One in seven Indians is affected by mental health disorders, while several states continue to face a treatment gap ranging from 70 to 90 percent," the experts said.

Noting that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for over 60 percent of deaths in the country, they added that "neurological and mental health conditions are among the leading contributors to disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)," among the citizens.

Need For Tertiary Neuro-psychiatric Care

To address these, the experts called for ramping up tertiary mental health institutions and expanding specialized services.

The session, moderated by Vijay Nehra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted that North India currently lacks adequate tertiary neuro-psychiatric care facilities. These include areas such as:

• advanced neuroimaging,
• neurocritical care,
• specialized neurological services

Further, making a virtual address at the Post-Budget Webinar, Union Health Minister JP Nadda also highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening mental healthcare services in the country.

"NIMHANS-2 will be established in North India to expand advanced clinical care, training, and research," Nadda said.

"In addition, the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, and the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, will be upgraded as regional apex institutions to strengthen mental healthcare services in the eastern and north-eastern regions," he added.

Meanwhile, the experts also stressed the need to improve services in underserved and geographically remote regions, including the northeastern states, through better infrastructure, capacity building, and targeted deployment of trained mental health professionals.

They also discussed strategies for expanding advanced neuro-psychiatric care and reinforcing India’s overall mental healthcare ecosystem. They proposed:

• Adopting a hub-and-spoke model supported by digital health platforms

This would allow tertiary institutions and centers of excellence to provide technical guidance, specialist consultations, and clinical support to district hospitals and community-level health facilities.

"Such a model would strengthen referral pathways and ensure that specialized mental health services are accessible to people even in remote and rural areas," the experts said.

• Integrating services under Tele-MANAS

Both existing and upcoming campuses of NIMHANS must be integrated , as this will enable a robust nationwide tele-mental health network that ensures

• timely counselling,
• psychological support,
• specialist consultations

• Digital follow-up systems

The experts called for the seamless integration of healthcare facilities, aligned with the vision of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the ABHA ID ecosystem. This, they said, will

• enable continuity of care,
• Improve monitoring of patients,
• Lead to better clinical outcomes

• A national Brain-Mind Cloud Network

The Network proposed under the National Health Mission would connect premier institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), state medical colleges, and primary healthcare centers through a digitally integrated platform.

It could also facilitate

• unified mental health records,
• AI-based screening tools,
• data-driven clinical decision support systems,
• tele-neuro-psychiatric hubs at regional centers.

California and New Jersey in the US are seeing an uptick in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) -- a virus with no vaccine or treatment.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory disease. There is currently no vaccine to prevent it, and no specific antiviral therapy to treat it.

"Most people will recover on their own," the agency noted, but advised people who get sick to drink plenty of liquids, stay home, and rest.

As per the CDC's respiratory dashboard, the cases of HMPV steadily ticked up since November 2025. It accounted for over 5 percent of positive tests the week of February 14 through February 21.

While HMPV is not a "new" virus, having first been discovered in 2001, cases haven't spiked to this level in the US since an outbreak in April 2025, USA Today reported.

The New Jersey Respiratory Surveillance Report cited that about 4 percent of residents in the state are testing positive for HMPV. The HMPV cases, accompanied by RSV, COVID, and flu cases, are surging, increasing the number of people seeking emergency medical care.

As per the public database, WastewaterScan Dashboard, HMPV is rampant in Northern California -- specifically San Francisco, Marin, Vallejo, Napa, Novato, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and Davis, the Independent UK reported.

What Is HMPV? Is It Dangerous?

HMPV was first discovered in 2001 and is part of the Pneumoviridae family along with the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

HMPV most likely spreads from an infected person to others through:

• the air by coughing and sneezing
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching objects or surfaces that have the viruses on them, then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes

In the US, HMPV circulates in predictable patterns each year, typically beginning in winter and lasting through spring.

The usually self-limiting and mild symptoms typically last 4 to 5 days. These include:

• cough,
• fever,
• nasal congestion,
• shortness of breath

People at risk include:

• elderly people,
• children,
• people with comorbidities

"The HMPV is not deadly, and there is no evidence of mortality or a severe transmission rate," former Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientist, Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, told IANS, during the virus's outbreak in India in 2025.

“The virus may cause pneumonitis-like illness, but the mortality rates are almost unknown so far. HMPV has a global prevalence of about 4 per cent,” he added.

While no vaccine or treatment can prevent HMPV infection, to avoid the infection, individuals must:

Practice good hygiene and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or use your elbow, not your hands, for it. And wash your hands properly, especially in healthcare settings.

India is currently working on a vision of preventive and holistic health, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, while addressing a series of post-budget webinars.

The Prime Minister highlighted that sectors like health, education, skill, tourism, sports, and culture are the primary vehicles for meeting the goal of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas-Fulfilling Aspirations of People”.

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“India is today working on a grand vision for preventive and holistic health. In the past few years, the country's health infrastructure has been strengthened. Hundreds of new medical colleges have opened in districts,” PM Modi said.

“Through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, access to health services has been extended to every village via wellness centers,” he added.

Emphasizing the vision of preventive and holistic health, the Prime Minister noted the rapid strengthening of health infrastructure and the global popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda.

Demand For Care Economy And Telemedicine

PM Modi specifically drew attention to the emerging 'Care Economy' and the rising demand for caregivers globally, urging experts to develop new training models to empower the youth.

"The population of senior citizens will increase in the country in the coming decade. In many countries of the world, there is a high demand for caregivers,” he said.

"Hence, skill-based employment opportunities for lakhs of youth in the health sector are present. I request that new training models be developed," PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the success of telemedicine in reaching remote areas. However, he stressed the need for further simplifying the user experience and building greater public awareness.

"I believe there is still a need to increase awareness and ease of use in telemedicine," PM Modi said.

Experts Push For Emergency Healthcare Services in India

In a separate session, health experts, policymakers, public health experts, and clinicians deliberated on the Budget Announcement under Para 88: “Strengthening of Emergency & Trauma Care Centers”.

In the Union Budget 2026–27, the Government had announced a major initiative to strengthen emergency healthcare services across the country.

The Government also proposed to strengthen and increase emergency and trauma care capacities by 50 per cent in District Hospitals by establishing emergency and trauma care centers.

The experts highlighted the country's significant burden of emergency medical conditions, including road traffic injuries, heart attacks, strokes, poisonings, burns, snake bites, etc.

While these require timely intervention within the “golden hour” to prevent deaths and long-term disability, emergency beds constitute only a small share of total hospital bed capacity in many district hospitals, highlighting the need for strengthening emergency care infrastructure and systems, the experts noted.

The discussion also highlighted the role of implementation research and data-driven approaches in identifying gaps and improving emergency care systems at the district level.

“Strengthening emergency and trauma care at the district level requires a systematic and outcome-oriented approach that goes beyond infrastructure to focus on performance and service delivery,” said Dr. V.K. Paul, member, NITI Aayog, who moderated the session.

Dr. Paul stressed the need for greater convergence across hospital systems, ambulance networks, and government programs, supported by digital technologies and real-time monitoring.

He also called for continued skilling and upskilling of emergency care personnel to build a strong and responsive emergency care system.