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)?

A-Fib is a heart condition that affects the upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. When these chambers beat irregularly, blood can pool and form clots, increasing the risk of stroke. Stroke is one of the most serious complications associated with A-Fib, and smoking is known to exacerbate this risk.

"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.

V, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, has revealed that he has been dealing with hearing loss in one ear for about two and a half years.

V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, opened up about the condition for the first time during a livestream amid the band's highly anticipated world tour.

"If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it's only about 30 in my right," V said.

The 30-year-old singer said his hearing became worse while he was serving in the military. However, he initially ignored the problem, believing it was "a matter of mental strength," BBC reported.

He said he is now taking medication and visiting the hospital regularly.

V Reveals Risk Of Stress Fracture

V also admitted to pushing through pain during BTS' current tour, revealing that he is dangerously close to developing a stress fracture in his leg.

“My shin is right at the point just before a stress fracture. Even today on stage, my heart was set on running around, but it hurt too much at points and I couldn’t," he was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia.

Doctors have warned him about inflammation and early bone damage.

“It hasn’t reached a stress fracture yet, but there’s a lot of inflammation in my shin, and I think there’s some microdamage to the bone. I’ll be careful with myself so I can finish this tour properly,” he added.

BTS is currently halfway through its massive Arirang world tour, which will stop in Singapore in December and conclude in the Philippines in March 2027.

What Is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. This includes:

• The outer ear
• The middle ear
• The inner ear
• The hearing or acoustic nerve
• The auditory system in the brain

When sound cannot travel properly through these structures, or when the brain cannot process sound clearly, hearing becomes impaired. It may be partial or complete, temporary or permanent, and can occur at any stage of life, from before birth to adulthood.

Hearing loss is a growing health concern worldwide. According to the WHO, more than 1.5 billion people—nearly 20% of the world's population—live with some degree of hearing loss. Of these, approximately 430 million people have disabling hearing loss requiring rehabilitation.

Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person's life, affecting education and job prospects.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can occur at any time during life. Causes can range from genetic factors to conditions such as Down syndrome or Usher syndrome.

Other factors include:

• Maternal infections during pregnancy
• Complications after birth
• Spending five days or more in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• Severe jaundice requiring a blood transfusion

How To Prevent Hearing Loss

To help prevent hearing loss in adults:

• Limit exposure to loud noises above 85 decibels.
• Wear ear protection, such as foam plugs or earmuffs, around heavy machinery or at concerts.
• Keep personal headphone use at safe volumes.
• Manage chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure.
• Avoid putting objects such as cotton swabs inside the ears.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda was admitted to AIIMS Delhi after experiencing uneasiness and underwent tests, including a coronary angiography. The hospital, in a statement, said he is stable and under observation in the cardiology department.

JP Nadda Under Observation

The 65-year-old minister was admitted on August 13 after experiencing uneasiness. He underwent tests, including coronary angiography.

“JP Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, was evaluated for uneasiness with tests including a coronary angiography on the evening of 13th August 2026. He is currently stable and admitted for observation in the Dept of Cardiology,” AIIMS said in a statement.

Is Uneasiness A Sign Of Heart Problems?

Heart problems do not always cause obvious symptoms. While common symptoms include chest pain or pressure, palpitations, and breathing difficulties, reduced blood flow to the heart can sometimes present with subtle signs or no symptoms.

Possible warning signs include:

• Unusual fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Jaw pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Dizziness
• Cough
• Leg pain or cramps
• Poor sleep

What Is Coronary Angiography?

Coronary angiography is a test used to check the blood vessels supplying the heart for narrowing or blockages.

A thin catheter is usually inserted through an artery in the wrist or groin. Contrast dye is injected, and X-rays are used to visualize the coronary arteries.

Why Is It Done?

Doctors may recommend coronary angiography for:

• Unexplained chest pain
• Abnormal results from tests such as an ECG, stress test or echocardiogram
• A heart attack, to locate a blocked artery
• Unexplained heart failure or cardiac arrest
• Certain congenital heart conditions

Why Are Heart Checkups Important?

Regular checkups can help detect heart disease early and monitor risk factors such as:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Blood sugar

Early detection can also support preventive measures, including a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress management.

Who Should Consider Regular Heart Checkups?

Regular monitoring can help detect changes early and support timely action to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.

Regular heart checkups are particularly important for people who:

• Are above 30
• Have a family history of heart disease
• Have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
• Smoke or frequently consume alcohol
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle
• Are overweight or obese
• Experience ongoing stress

Common Tests Included In A Heart Checkup

Depending on individual risk factors, a heart checkup may include:

• Blood pressure measurement
• Blood tests for cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar
• ECG to assess heart rhythm
• Echocardiography to assess heart structure and function
• TMT or stress test to assess the heart during exertion

Additional tests, such as CT coronary angiography or specialized cardiac biomarkers, may be recommended in some cases.

Sixty-two deaths in Australia have been reported to the medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), with suspected associations with GLP-1 medicines, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

The TGA has also received reports of nearly 3,000 serious adverse events involving these medicines, which are used by hundreds of thousands of Australians, The Herald Sun reported.

Reported adverse reactions include nausea, pancreatitis, suicidal thoughts and a rare eye condition that can cause blindness.

62 Death Reports Involving GLP-1 Medicines

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, used for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, approved for weight management, had the highest number of reported deaths with suspected associations.

Other medicines with reported suspected associations include Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide). These drugs are approved to treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, or both.

The reported deaths included:

• Semaglutide — 37 reports
• Tirzepatide — 9 reports
• Liraglutide — 11 reports
• Dulaglutide — 5 reports

However, a report submitted to the TGA does not prove that a medicine caused a death or adverse event.

The TGA states that adverse-event reports alone cannot determine how common a reaction is or be used to directly compare the safety of different medicines. The regulator also said the benefit-risk profile of these medicines remains positive when they are appropriately used for approved indications and in intended patients.

GLP-1 Drugs Carry New Warning For Rare Eye Condition

The TGA recently updated warnings for some GLP-1 medicines concerning non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but serious eye condition.

Product warnings across the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) class have been updated because of the potential association with the disorder.

NAION can cause permanent visual impairment, including blindness. The TGA notes that no treatment has been shown to improve visual acuity outcomes in people who develop the condition.

GLP-1 RA medicines are prescription drugs used primarily to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, the TGA urged patients not to stop treatment on their own.

“These are prescription medicines, so people taking them should discuss benefits, risks and side effects with their healthcare professional rather than stopping or changing treatment based on headlines alone,” the TGA said.

Death Reports From Other Countries

The Australian reports come amid safety monitoring of GLP-1 medicines in other countries. At the same time, clinical evidence has shown important health benefits from some GLP-1 medicines, including reductions in cardiovascular risk and, in certain populations, overall mortality.

Data submitted to the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) showed 82 reported deaths associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists up to January 31, 2025. Of these, 22 were associated with use for weight loss and 60 with use for type 2 diabetes.

In the US, reports in the FDA's FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) database have listed 162 deaths associated with Ozempic and Wegovy since 2018.

However, these figures should not be interpreted as confirmed deaths caused by the medicines. Adverse-event reporting systems record suspected associations and cannot by themselves establish a direct causal relationship. Millions of people use GLP-1 medicines, and reported cases can involve other health conditions or factors, including severe complications, dosing errors, and counterfeit or compounded products.