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 fresh assessment of Quebec’s hospital network paints a troubling picture. The number of medical buildings considered to be in poor condition has more than doubled in just one year, revealing infrastructure problems far deeper than previously understood.

Data updated by Santé Québec and compiled by Radio Canada shows that 38 per cent of the province’s 594 hospital buildings were rated either poor or very poor by early 2026.

In early 2025, about 100 buildings fell into those categories. A year later, that number rose sharply to 227.

Repair Costs Surge Past $2 Billion

The deteriorating conditions have dramatically increased repair costs. The hospital maintenance backlog, once estimated at about 900 million dollars last year, has now crossed 2 billion dollars.

Officials say the numbers reflect years of aging infrastructure and delayed evaluations rather than a sudden collapse in a single year.

Montreal Hospitals Among The Worst Affected

Nearly half of the most deteriorated hospitals are located in Montreal.

The Montreal General Hospital now ranks as the worst facility in the province. Last year it held a B rating, meaning good condition. This year it fell to E, the lowest possible grade, indicating very bad condition.

Colleen Timm, executive director of the McGill University Health Centre, described the situation as critical. She said the hospital has recorded 260 water leaks since early 2024, some affecting patient care directly.

According to Timm, the building’s plumbing and electrical systems must be completely replaced. The estimated maintenance deficit for that hospital alone is about 249 million dollars.

The Douglas Mental Health University Institute, which recently experienced burst water pipes, is also among the most deteriorated sites.

Problems Seen Across The Province

The issue extends beyond Montreal. Santé Québec figures show several other facilities also need major repairs.

The Douglas Mental Health Institute in Montreal, the Hôtel Dieu de Québec in Quebec City and the Saint Jérôme regional hospital each require roughly 100 million dollars in work.

Sonia Dugas, vice president of finance at Santé Québec, called the rapid rise in poor ratings worrying. She explained the increase is partly due to a long overdue update of infrastructure data that had not been properly evaluated for years.

The goal, she said, is to get an accurate picture so budgets can be prioritized correctly.

Aging Buildings Before New Ones

Officials now say the province must focus on maintaining older facilities before expanding the network.

Santé Québec currently has about 1 billion dollars available for maintenance, but Dugas acknowledged the real repair costs will likely be at least double that amount.

The findings suggest Quebec faces a long and expensive effort to modernize hospitals that millions rely on for care.

Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane has died at the age of 53, 10 months after revealing he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Dane, who is also known for his role as Nate Jacob's father in HBO's Euphoria, has spent his last few months raising awareness for the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND).

Popularly known as 'McSteamy', Dane is survived by his wife, fellow actress and model Rebecca Gayheart and his two daughters, Billie and Georgia.

"With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS," reads a statement from the grieving family. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world."

"Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

What Is ALS?

Most individuals with ALS retain their cognitive function, but lose the ability to walk, speak, eat, and breathe without assistance. The disease progresses over time, with most patients surviving between two to five years following diagnosis.

ALS presents in unique ways from person to person. It can begin in the limbs (limb-onset) or in muscles related to speaking and swallowing (bulbar-onset). While no cure currently exists, treatment advancements have offered hope for improved quality of life and extended survival.

Who is Affected by ALS?

There are two major types of ALS:

Sporadic ALS: This is the most common form, accounting for 90% of cases. Though it appears without family history, a portion of cases may involve genetic mutations.

Familial ALS: Representing about 10 percent of cases, this inherited form results from specific genetic changes.

Certain groups are at higher risk. Military veterans and firefighters are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS—potentially due to environmental exposures, physical trauma, or toxins encountered during service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-connected condition, entitling veterans to specialized care and benefits.

READ MORE: Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Eric Dane Reveals He Has ALS- What Are The Early Signs And Risks?

What Symptoms Should Look Out For?

• Spasticity and exaggerated reflexes
• Muscle atrophy, particularly in the hands and legs
• Bulbar symptoms like difficulty speaking (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia)
• Emotional lability (pseudobulbar affect)
• Breathing difficulties

What Leads To ALS?

ALS is diagnosed by ruling out other conditions through clinical evaluation, EMG tests, genetic screening, and imaging such as MRI. Early diagnosis is essential to access therapies and plan care.

There is no cure for ALS yet, but treatments like riluzole, edaravone, and tofersen (for those with SOD1 mutations) can slow progression. Promising research areas include gene therapy, RNA-targeted treatments, biomarkers like Neurofilament Light Chain, and artificial intelligence for diagnosis and personalized care.

Western Australia (WA) Government's announcement of older Western Australians living in residential aged care to receive free RSV immunization through a new $2.6 million state-funded program has been welcomed by the Royal Australian College of GPs or the RACGP.

This is a first initiative where the Arexvy RSV vaccine that usually costs around $300 at private hospitals will be made available at no cost to Western Australians aged 65 and over residing in aged care facilities. As per the Depart of Health, there are about 15,000 aged care residents who will benefit by the vaccine this year.

Western Australia Seniors To Get Free RSV Immunization: What Is RSV?

Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV is a common, contagious virus that usually causes mild symptoms. In older adults, including those with certain underlying conditions, RSV could cause severe infection. RSV is not a new virus and could be a bigger health concern than many think due to it being highly contagious.

It is a type of respiratory virus that could cause infections of the lungs and the respiratory tracts, It is similar to other respiratory infections when it comes to spreading.

How Does RSV Spread?

It could spread through a cough, sneeze, or by exchange of saliva or using hand to cover a sneeze and not washing it. A person with RSV is typically contagious for three to eight days, for some people with weakened immune system, they could be contagious for four weeks even after they stop showing symptoms.

Western Australia Seniors To Get Free RSV Immunization: What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms of RSV could appear in three to four days and last up to two weeks. It could range from mild to severe symptoms in older adults. The common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Runny Nose
• Congestion
• Headache
• Tiredness

Western Australia Seniors To Get Free RSV Immunization: What Is The RSV Season?

The seasonality could vary based on geographic location, population density and even climate activity. However, majority of RSV cases follow the patter:

• Rise from mid September to mid November
• Peak from late December to mid February
• Decline from mid April to mid May

Western Australia Seniors To Get Free RSV Immunization: What Does The Data Say?

RSV is a major winter respiratory illness in Australia that results over 115,000 hospitalizations (2016 to 2019) as per the data presented by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCRIS), which is Australia's leading immunization organization. Its data notes that RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants, with high rates in those under six months.

As per the official website of Government of Western Australia, in 2025, Western Australia reported 12,804 RSV cases and around a third were in people over 65 who became "very unwell" and required hospital admission. This year's initiative thus aims to lower this number and to protect the seniors form this contagious disease. The Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook said, "Our health system is seeing more patients who are older, sicker and have complex heath needs, reflecting the impact of an ageing population. The RSV immunization program will keep more Western Australians well over the winter months and ease the pressure on our emergency departments."