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 federally commissioned study that concluded even low levels of alcohol consumption may increase the risk of disease and premature death has now been published in a scientific journal after its findings were set aside by the Trump administration.

The study, known as the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, was commissioned as part of an effort to update the United States Dietary Guidelines. Researchers concluded that consuming as little as one alcoholic drink per day could raise the risk of serious illness and mortality.

However, the report was never officially released by the administration and later became the subject of political and industry scrutiny.

Why Was the Study Not Released?

Launched in 2023, the Alcohol Intake and Health Study was overseen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The review aimed to inform recommendations on alcohol consumption in the next edition of the federal dietary guidelines. But soon the study garnered controversy with some members of Congress and alcohol lobby groups arguing that scientists involved in the review held anti-alcohol views, according to Stat News.

As per a House Oversight Committee report, released in January, the study was "irretrievably flawed". It recommended that federal officials disregard its findings when drafting dietary guidance.

However, researchers involved in the project argued that the findings were sidelined because they conflicted with the interests of the alcohol industry.

What Did The Study Find?

Also read: Is There A Safe Limit For Alcohol Consumption? Major Review Challenges Long-Held Beliefs

After the federal review was shelved, researchers submitted their work independently to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, where it was published following peer review.

The published analysis concluded that even modest alcohol consumption — roughly one drink per day — is associated with increased risks of disease and death.

“These findings are not radical. They are rigorous — and commercially threatening,” wrote Robert Vincent, a former SAMHSA associate administrator for alcohol prevention and treatment policy, in an accompanying editorial.

Vincent, who helped oversee the project, lost his position during broader cuts across federal health agencies last year, the report said.

Notable, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has stated that the now published article was not the same report reviewed by the government and emphasized that it was not commissioned, approved, or cleared by SAMHSA.

Alcohol Guidance Changed

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Federal officials said they reviewed a broad range of scientific evidence when updating the nation's dietary recommendations.

New dietary guidelines released in January marked a significant shift in alcohol messaging. Rather than recommending specific daily limits, the guidance now advises Americans to “consume less alcohol for better overall health.”

According to HHS, the recommendation was based on a separate scientific review rather than the SAMHSA-led report.

For the first time in 20 years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added bemotrizinol to the list of permitted sunscreen active ingredients.

Bemotrizinol is the first new active ingredient added to the over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s and has been used for years in Europe and Asia.

“As promised in the Trump Administration’s MAHA Strategy Report, HHS is advancing innovation by bringing a new sunscreen ingredient to the US market for the first time in 20 years,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Bemotrizinol has been used safely in Europe for decades, and FDA’s action will increase competition and consumer confidence in sunscreen products.”

On December 11, 2025, the FDA proposed allowing the use of bemotrizinol in sunscreens. The agency finalized the action within seven months of issuing the proposed order.

Bemotrizinol is known to provide stable, long-lasting protection against both types of ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage the skin. According to the FDA, it is also gentle enough to be used safely by young children.

What Is Bemotrizinol?

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Bemotrizinol, also known as BEMT, is a chemical sunscreen filter that absorbs both UVB and UVA rays. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation, which sunscreen products are designed to block.

UVA and UVB rays affect the skin differently. UVA rays are primarily associated with tanning and skin ageing, while UVB rays are more closely linked to sunburn. UVB rays can also be partially blocked by barriers such as windows and clouds.

According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, about 95 per cent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface is UVA, while UVB accounts for the remaining 5 per cent.

Sunscreens protect the skin either by creating a physical barrier using mineral ingredients or by using chemical filters that absorb UV radiation before it reaches the skin. Bemotrizinol belongs to the latter category.

The addition of BEMT is being welcomed by many experts because options that are both highly effective and considered safe remain limited in the US sunscreen market, according to an annual report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy organization.

Why Is Bemotrizinol Considered Beneficial?

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Bemotrizinol offers several characteristics that make it an effective sunscreen ingredient. It provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation and can achieve higher SPF protection at lower concentrations than some other commonly used sunscreen chemicals, according to Certified Laboratories and the FDA.

The ingredient is also photostable, meaning it breaks down more slowly when exposed to sunlight, helping maintain protection for longer periods. Because it is oil-soluble, it can be easily incorporated into creams and lotions.

In addition, bemotrizinol is minimally absorbed through the skin and rarely causes irritation, which is one reason the FDA considers it safe for use in children as young as six months old.

Bemotrizinol Added to OTC

Meanwhile, DSM Nutritional Products, a manufacturer submitted an OTC monograph order request seeking to add bemotrizinol, marketed as Parsol Shield, at concentrations of up to 6 per cent as a new active ingredient in the OTC sunscreen monograph.

“The FDA reviewed the request and proposed to amend the OTC monograph to add bemotrizinol as a sunscreen active ingredient,” the agency said in its announcement.

In December 2025, DSM had announced that, once approved, Parsol Shield would be available for use in sunscreen products in accordance with the monograph requirements.

According to the FDA, OTC monograph drugs such as sunscreens can enter the market without an approved drug application if they meet specific requirements, including permitted active ingredients, uses and dosage limits established under the monograph.

The FDA can modify an OTC monograph through an administrative order, and manufacturers can initiate the process by submitting an OTC monograph order request.

Remember Raghu Ram from the MTV reality show 'Roadies'? The actor and television host recently celebrated 10 years of a smoke-free life and took to Instagram to share his progress with fans. Smoking is injurious to health, and that is a known fact. It is associated with heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and even respiratory difficulties in the future. This habit can turn fatal too if one becomes addicted to nicotine. But for Raghu Ram, this journey ended 10 years ago, and he has never looked back since.

From chain smoker to now

"Iss mahine cigarette chhodkar mujhe pure 10 saal ho gaye hain. Or main aisa waise smoker nhi tha. Main peeta tha din mein 1-2 packets daily. Yani 20-40 cigarettes roz. Par maine bahut koshish ki chhodne ki, lekin addiction hoti hai, chor nhin pate hain log. Main bhi nhin chor paya tha," Raghu said in an Instagram video.

"Aisa chora ki wapas ek bhi kash nahin mara. 10 saal ho gaye hain mereko," he added.

How did Raghu Ram quit smoking?

On his podcast Mencyclopedia in 2023, Raghu Ram revealed that he once smoked 20–40 cigarettes a day for 15 years and then suddenly stopped.

"I smoked 20–40 cigarettes every day for 15 years, and then I just stopped. Cold turkey. And I had not taken a puff of a cigarette in 7 years," he said in his podcast titled How I Won the Longest Battle with My Addiction.

After trying several times to quit, Raghu Ram finally gave up smoking after marrying his wife, Natalie Di Luccio, a Canadian singer, in 2018.

Raghu Ram's 7-step guide to quitting smoking

Here is a simple seven-step guide from the former 'Roadies' host and judge:

1. Decide on a date when you want to quit smoking and announce it to everyone.
2. Overdo it a day or two before that so that you are fully disgusted by the act.
3. List all your smoking triggers in order of severity.
4. Avoid situations that can trigger you during the initial phase when you are struggling with withdrawal symptoms.
5. Once you are through the first two weeks, you can gradually put yourself in trigger situations—from least to most severe—and still manage to resist the urge to smoke.
Exercise regularly, as it makes a significant difference to your cravings.

For every person who has ever quit smoking or wanted to do it

For everyone who has ever quit smoking, the reasons may look different, but they all have two things in common: first, an addiction they are battling; and second, withdrawal symptoms to overcome. You may not be able to follow Raghu Ram's seven-step guide exactly, but his story is inspiring enough to encourage people to try quitting smoking.