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 World Cup is at the doorstep, and fans are excited to witness their favorite stars once again in their clash to get the golden trophy. It has been over 20 years since the World Cup returned to the US, though Canada and Mexico are also among the hosts. The fans are reaching America from all over the world. The players are also ready to make their mark on the largest scale of the sport.

Thus, it becomes crucial to keep the athletes fit and healthy. There is a huge team behind the scenes to treat and take care of your favorite stars, which requires strategy, planning, and most of all, accurate execution. On this backdrop comes a name that makes the difference known as the Pro Sports Doc, Riley J. Williams III, who is known to be an expert, and he will coordinate medical care during this demanding tournament.

The Pro Sports Doc, with his 20 years of experience, will be working and coordinating medical care in the New York / New Jersey area. In an interview with Muscle and Fitness, Riley J. Williams III put emphasis on players getting acclimatized and synchronizing their sleeping patterns with North America. He also mentioned creatine as a great health supplement. He also reveals that his team has readied the entire spectrum of possible medical issues that might occur while teams are in the market.

FIFA has also issued standard procedures to keep the players safe. Each Participating Member Association shall include at least one team medical doctor in its delegation, to be present in the technical area during all matches. It is a mandatory requirement that the team medical doctor of each Participating Member Association complete and successfully pass the “Concussion” and “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” modules of the FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine before the FIFA World Cup 26.

The team's medical doctor is responsible for the overall health of their team delegation and any clinical decision‑making in this regard, both on and off the field of play. Although the team doctors’ primary responsibility is to the players, their medical responsibility extends to all other members of the delegation. As such, all team doctors shall ensure that they have the appropriate registration and licence in their home country.

Each Participating Member Association shall ensure and confirm to FIFA that its players have undergone a cardiac screening, including personal and family history, clinical examination, and resting 12‑lead ECG, within the last 12 months and an echocardiography within the last 24 months before the start of the final competition of the FIFA World Cup 26. If specifically performed for the tournament, FIFA recommends that participating teams use the screening form developed by FIFA cardiology consultants.

The much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin tonight. The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities in the three countries.

The 39-day event kicks off in Mexico on Thursday amid ongoing health outbreaks such as measles, Ebola, and hantavirus.

More than 750,000 soccer fans are expected to travel from over 100 countries to witness 104 matches. The influx of visitors will crowd public transportation, restaurants, and other public spaces, increasing the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, heat-related illnesses, and injuries.

Ahead of the mass gatherings, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued new public health recommendations for travelers.

"The celebration happens both inside and outside the stadiums, but to fully enjoy it, it's important to take care of yourself and stay informed," PAHO said.

FIFA World Cup 2026: PAHO's Key Health Recommendations for Travelers

Keep Vaccinations Up to Date

Check your protection against measles, which is on the rise across the Americas.

Other recommended vaccines include:

• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
• Influenza
• COVID-19
• Hepatitis A and B

Prepare Before Traveling

• Carry a basic health kit.
• Bring enough medication for the entire trip.
• Confirm health insurance coverage.
• Keep copies of passports, vaccination records, and insurance documents.

Also read: US Pushes Europe for Ebola Travel Curbs Ahead of FIFA World Cup: Which Countries Have Bans And Do They Work?

Stay Healthy During the Tournament

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Drink safe water.
• Eat properly cooked food.
• Ensure good ventilation in indoor spaces.

Protect Yourself From Heat

• Stay hydrated.
• Seek shade whenever possible.
• Avoid prolonged outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day.

Stay Safe in Crowded Venues

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid heavily congested areas.
• Identify emergency exits when entering stadiums and fan zones.

Prevent Mosquito-Borne Diseases

• Use insect repellent.
• Wear protective clothing.
• Be aware of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya risks, particularly in some host cities in Mexico.

Practice Safe Sex

• Use condoms correctly to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

• Alcohol can worsen dehydration and impair judgment, especially in crowded or hot environments.

Rely on Official Information

• Follow updates from health authorities and trusted sources.
• Be cautious of misinformation circulating during major events.

Seek Medical Care if Symptoms Develop

• Fever, rash, or breathing difficulties should be evaluated promptly.
• Inform healthcare providers about recent travel and attendance at World Cup events.

Monitor Your Health After Returning Home

• Some illnesses may appear days after exposure.
• Seek medical care if you develop fever, rash, or respiratory symptoms after your trip and inform healthcare providers about your recent travel history.

FIFA World Cup: US Experts To Monitor Wastewater

A public health team based in Washington, D.C., plans to monitor wastewater and internet activity to detect and track infectious diseases should they emerge in any of the US or Canadian cities hosting World Cup matches, players, and millions of spectators, Reuters reported.

Detecting disease-causing microorganisms in wastewater can provide an early warning of emerging outbreaks, giving health officials time to alert clinicians to watch for symptoms that might otherwise be misdiagnosed and to encourage the public to take preventive measures.

FIFA World Cup: Heat A Major Health Risk

Read More: Confused By Your Cholesterol Report? Here's What LDL And ApoB Really Mean

Beyond infectious diseases, heat is expected to be a major concern during the FIFA World Cup. Host cities such as Houston, Miami, Mexico City and Los Angeles can experience extreme temperatures in June and July, making it dangerous for fans standing outdoors in large crowds for extended periods.

Writing in Forbes, Jesse Pines, an integrative medicine physician at Eterna Integrative and a Clinical Professor at George Washington University (GW), explained that heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats and loses vital fluids and salts through sweating.

"Warning signs include dizziness, a rapid but weak pulse and cool, clammy skin. Left untreated, it can escalate quickly into heat stroke — a life-threatening emergency that can kill or cause permanent brain damage. Core body temperature above 104 degrees F, confusion and cessation of sweating are the hallmarks," he said.

Pines noted that alcohol can significantly increase the risk of heat-related illness. To reduce the risk, he recommends eating a full meal before drinking, choosing water over alcoholic beverages and keeping electrolyte drinks on hand.

Who Is Most at Risk?

The expert said certain groups may face a higher risk during mass gatherings in summer heat, including:

• People aged 65 and older
• Individuals with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD or kidney disease
• People who are immunocompromised
• Pregnant fans

The UK government has confirmed a case of hantavirus infection in Tristan da Cunha, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.

In a post on social media platform X, Tedros said the patient had previously been classified as a probable case and had been exposed aboard the MV Hondius.

“As of June 10, the total number of confirmed cases remains 13, including three deaths,” he said. “No new deaths have been reported since May 2,” when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius was reported to the WHO.

While the outbreak aboard the luxury vessel had raised concerns about wider transmission. However, the WHO has assessed the overall risk to the public as low. The global health body recommended active health monitoring for all evacuated passengers for 42 days from their last exposure date, either in designated quarantine facilities or at home. The monitoring period is scheduled to continue until June 21.

The outbreak, which claimed three lives and infected 13 people, was driven by the Andes strain, which carries a risk of human-to-human transmission. There is currently no specific antiviral drug or vaccine for the Andes virus.

Study Suggests Potential Treatment

Also read: Can Hantavirus Spread Through Semen And Breast Milk? What Experts Say

A recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reported early promising results for tocilizumab as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

The study is based on a case series involving 10 hantavirus patients treated at Hospital Zonal de Bariloche, Argentina, between June 1, 2024, and May 6, 2026.

Tocilizumab is an immunosuppressive medication used to treat severe inflammatory conditions, including severe COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, said that under an ethical framework allowing the emergency use of unproven medications outside clinical trials when no satisfactory alternatives exist, tocilizumab was administered to five eligible patients with laboratory-confirmed severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Five other patients received standard supportive care without tocilizumab because they were too sick or the medication was unavailable when treatment was being considered. The researchers said tocilizumab warrants further evaluation as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

What Is Hantavirus?

According to the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of these cases are in Asia, particularly China. Most are sporadic or occur in small clusters linked to contact with infected rodents.

Infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location.

The WHO has confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus—the only strain known to spread from person to person—is responsible for the outbreak. There is currently no vaccine available for the strain.

Notably, the WHO has not specified the type of hantavirus or syndrome involved in the cruise ship incident, but it did mention respiratory risks.

How Does Hantavirus Spread?

Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through:

• Exposure to rodent urine
• Exposure to rodent droppings
• Exposure to rodent saliva
• Less commonly, through a rodent scratch or bite.