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.

Even as Uganda works to contain what is already the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, centred in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country is now facing the risk of the Marburg virus, another deadly filovirus disease.

Media reports have indicated a possible Marburg virus case in Uganda, although the country has not yet publicly declared an outbreak.

Uganda Reports Case To WHO

Uganda, however, formally reported a case of Marburg virus disease to the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 30, according to a STAT News report.

On June 29, the US Embassy in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, also issued a health alert regarding a possible case of Marburg virus disease in the country.

"The US Embassy is aware there are reports of a potential case of Marburg Virus Disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever, in western Uganda," the embassy said in its advisory.

The alert was issued as a Level 4 travel advisory, warning Americans not to travel to Uganda.

Dual Threat May Complicate Response

Also read: WHO Issues First Clinical Care Guidelines On Ebola And Marburg Disease

Uganda has extensive experience managing outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers. The country last reported a Marburg virus outbreak in 2017, when there were four cases and three deaths.

However, responding to a potential Marburg outbreak while simultaneously battling Ebola could complicate public health efforts.

Both Ebola and Marburg virus disease are viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by closely related filoviruses. So far, Uganda has reported a total of 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, including two deaths. Of these, 15 cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

What Is Marburg Virus?

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Marburg virus disease belongs to the same virus family as Ebola and has a case fatality rate that has varied widely across outbreaks.

The virus is primarily carried by fruit bats and can spread to humans through prolonged exposure to infected bats or contaminated environments. Once a person is infected, the virus spreads from person to person through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces and materials used by infected individuals.

Common Signs And Symptoms

Marburg virus disease typically begins with a sudden onset of high fever, severe headache and muscle pain. Other common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and weakness.

In severe cases, patients may develop internal and external bleeding, organ failure and shock, which can be fatal.

There is currently no approved specific treatment or vaccine for Marburg virus disease. However, supportive care significantly improves survival, and several vaccines, antiviral drugs and immune therapies are under development, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

History Of Marburg Virus

According to the WHO, Marburg virus disease has killed between 24 per cent and 88 per cent of infected patients in previous outbreaks, depending on the virus strain and the quality of medical care available.

The virus was first identified in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks occurred in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade in present-day Serbia. A total of 31 people were infected and seven died.

The outbreaks were traced to African green monkeys imported from Uganda for laboratory research. Fruit bats are now recognized as the natural reservoir of the virus, although other animals can also become infected.

Past outbreaks have been reported in countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Outside Africa, only a handful of Marburg cases have been reported. Two fatal cases occurred in travelers who had visited bat-inhabited caves in Uganda—one in Europe and one in the United States.

The Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) has issued an urgent advisory asking anaesthesiologists and hospitals across the country to immediately stop administering Hyperbaric Bupivacaine manufactured by Themis for spinal anaesthesia until further notice.

Why Has ISA Issued This Advisory?

Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine is commonly administered as a spinal anaesthesia. According to the ISA and the Anaesthesia Patient Safety Association (APSA), the anaesthesia resulted in several suspected adverse events.

These reports were significant enough to warrant an immediate nationwide safety alert, even though the exact cause and frequency of the adverse events have not been revealed yet.

However, according to Medical Dialogues, the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists has suspected that the adverse incidents linked to Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine were reported at Apollo Hospitals and Yashoda Hospitals. They also said that Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) related to the drug have been reported, and an investigation is underway.

The associations also stressed that the advisory is strictly precautionary and does not imply that the drug is defective or that Themis is responsible for any negligence or unethical practices.

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What Does The Advisory Say?

Apart from stopping the administration of Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine, the advisory has also asked hospitals and healthcare facilities to:

• Identify, segregate, and isolate existing stock of Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine from clinical use.

• Switch to alternative approved brands of hyperbaric bupivacaine.

• Preserve details like batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, and storage conditions.

• Report any suspected adverse events related to the drug to APSA and the relevant regulatory bodies.

Dr Sherry Mathews, President of the Hyderabad Metro City Branch of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists, said, “This is a precautionary advisory issued in the interest of patient safety. Reports of serious adverse events have been received from multiple hospitals, and until the investigation is completed, we have advised doctors to stop using the product.”

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A separate notice issued by the ISA's Hyderabad Metro City Branch directed consultants, resident doctors, anaesthesia technicians and operation theatre staff to immediately stop the use of Themis Bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia.

It also said that no ampoules of the product should be used for neuraxial administration until an official clearance is issued. It added that any inadvertent use must be reported to the head of the department without fail.

The authorities are currently investigating these suspected adverse reactions, particularly their nature and association with the drug.

About Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine

Themis Hyperbaric Bupivacaine, marketed under brand names like Bupicain Heavy, is manufactured by Themis Medicare Limited, a 53-year-old Indian pharmaceutical company.

It contains Bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.5% (5 mg/mL), a local anaesthetic. It also contains Dextrose, which makes the solution hyperbaric (heavier than cerebrospinal fluid), which helps anaesthesiologists control how the anaesthetic spreads through the spinal canal.

Hyperbaric bupivacaine is commonly used for:

• Caesarean sections

• Orthopaedic surgeries involving limbs in the lower half

• Hip and knee surgeries

• Urological procedures

• Gynaecological surgeries

• Hernia surgeries

• Other surgeries below the umbilicus

Hyperbaric bupivacaine is widely trusted for spinal anaesthesia globally. Many pharmaceutical companies manufacture it. The concern raised by the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists is not against the drug, but about one manufacturer's production.

The Times Network India Health Summit 2026 – South Edition, held on June 20 in Hyderabad, honored the outstanding contributions of doctors and innovations across the Indian healthcare sector.

The event brought together leading voices from government, medicine, research, and the healthcare industry to discuss the future of India's healthcare system.

Across three panel discussions, experts deliberated on the growing burden of obesity and anemia in the country, the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and whether AI could outpace doctors, as well as the increasing incidence of violence against doctors and healthcare workers.

The summit featured renowned doctors, policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers and healthcare innovators. Discussions also covered preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, women's health, public health policy and medical innovation.

The event was powered by Tamashii, with Gigglu as the associate partner, BMW Krishna Automotive as the automobile partner, Sumadhura as the real estate partner, and VOH (Voice of Healthcare) as the knowledge partner.

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