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.

Wegovy: Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are reportedly preparing to finalize agreements with the Trump administration that could significantly reduce the cost of their blockbuster weight loss medications in return for Medicare coverage, according to a White House source quoted by Reuters on Tuesday.

Patients in the United States pay some of the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs—often nearly triple what consumers in other developed nations spend. President Donald Trump has been urging major pharmaceutical companies to bring prices down to align more closely with global standards.

Cost of Weight Loss Drugs Is Finally Dropping

Two of the most sought-after medications, Wegovy and Zepbound, currently cost more than $1,000 a month at list price. The high cost has made them unaffordable for many Americans, especially those without insurance or whose plans do not cover the drugs. A survey by the health policy group KFF in May 2024 found that about half of adults taking these medications find it difficult to manage the expense.

However, that may soon change. The Trump administration is expected to unveil a new deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that would cut the monthly price of certain weight loss drugs to under $150. The official announcement is set for November 6, marking a major step toward making these treatments more accessible.

What Price Cap Did Trump Negotiate for Weight Loss Drugs?

According to reports from Endpoints News and The Wall Street Journal, the agreement would set the lowest dose of Lilly’s and Novo’s weight loss drugs at $149 per month. In exchange, the companies would gain Medicare coverage for their products—a milestone for obesity treatments, which are not currently included under Medicare.

Both Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo’s Wegovy have been immensely popular but remain out of reach for many due to high prices and inconsistent insurance coverage.

TrumpRx to Offer Discounted Weight Loss Drugs?

Separately, The Wall Street Journal also noted that the administration is working on an additional deal with both drugmakers to sell select obesity medications directly through the upcoming TrumpRx platform, a government-run consumer site expected to launch in 2026. This would follow previous arrangements where other discounted drugs were offered through federal programs.

President Trump has consistently pushed for most favored nation pricing, a policy aimed at ensuring Americans pay no more than citizens of other advanced economies. On September 30, he announced such a deal with Pfizer, reducing Medicaid drug costs.

In another move, he recently confirmed that EMD Serono, the country’s largest fertility drug maker, had agreed to lower the price of a common IVF medication, continuing his administration’s push to reduce the cost of essential treatments.

Insurance Coverage Still Uneven

Although many insurance plans cover GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for diabetes or heart disease, more than half of employer-based plans still do not extend coverage to obesity-related prescriptions.

In 2024, about 44% of large employers offered coverage for GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, compared to 41% in 2023, according to data from Mercer, a benefits consulting firm.

This potential price cut could therefore play a crucial role in bridging that gap—making effective weight loss medications accessible to a wider group of Americans.

Amid the discrepancy in Delhi AQI, where the official data on the Air Quality Index shows condition to be 'poor', while the ground reality shows a stark difference, with the AQI reported at 'severe' and even 'hazardous' levels, doctors have now pointed out that there is a 60% rise in patients with eye problems. All thanks to the toxic smog.

As per the IQ Air, at 7:22am, Delhi recorded 501 AQI, categorizing it under 'Hazardous', while, AQI.in recorded the AQI at 739. While there is contestation among the accurate AQI, several media outlets have reported on the discrepancies of AQI between the official data, and data from local or private outlets that measures the air quality.

However, what remains undeniable is the fact that doctors have noted a rise in patients with eye problems. As per the PTI report, ophthalmologists have said to see a 60% surge in cases with eye problems. They are blaming this to the "toxic cocktail of smoke, particulate matter, and chemical residues from firecracker burning".

The doctors confirmed that most cases now appear with patients who have allergies, dryness, burning sensation, and excessive watering in the eyes. The pollution is not only affecting children, but adults are equally impacted.

Dr Ikeda Lal, Senior Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery Specialist at Delhi Eye Centre and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told PTI, "Every year after Diwali, we brace for a rise in eye complaints. The number of patients complaining of itching, redness, and irritation has gone up by almost 50-60 per cent."

How Does Pollution Impact Your Eyes?

A study from 2022 published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health notes for the adverse effects of air pollution on the eyes. Before understanding how air pollution impacts one's eye, it is important to understand what it consists of.

The Composition Of Air Pollution

Air pollution is a mix of complex gas-phase pollutants and particles that are disbursed into atmosphere, and are harmful.

The air pollution comprises of:

• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrogen monoxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5
• Particulate matter 10 or PM10

In addition to that, household pollution could also produce volatile organic compounds, for instance, formaldehyde could cause DNA damage in animal cells, and its carcinogenicity has been assessed by many studies too.

The Impact Of Pollutants On Eyes

Air pollution is known to cause cardiovascular disorders, respiratory tract problems, ocular disease, neurologic disease, cancer, and even death, notes the study.

In terms of its impact on the eyes, the pollutants usually work as irritants, which can cause inflammation and irritation on the eyes. The cornea is the most sensitive structure in the human body, reason being, its innervations in the ocular surface, which makes it extremely sensitive to environmental agents. The pollutants could thus cause conjunctivitis, which could become a frequent problem.

A 2003 study titled Impact of Environmental Pollution on the Eye, conducted by R Saxena, et.al., noted that people who travelled to highly polluted areas where the PM level was five times higher than the WHO recommended, suffered from extensive subclinical ocular surgace change.

Dr Aarti Nangia, who is the Prinipal Director of Ophthalmology at Max Hospitals, Dwarka, writes on the hospital website that air pollution could cause these following problems in the eyes:

• Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye: Eye becomes inflamed due to exposure to pollutants and leads to redness, itching, tearing, and even swelling of eyes
• Dry Eye Syndrome: Pollutants disrupt the tear film that keeps the eye lubricated and thus could cause dryness, irritation, and even blurred vision, and redness
• Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye): This happens due to a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, which gets worse due to exposure to dust and pollution
• Eye Irritation and Redness: Airborne pollutants could lead to general eye irritation and cause discomfort in day-to-day life.

Sean Williams, Zimbabwe Cricketer, admits to his drug addiction, and will not be considered for national selection. The Zimbabwe batter is voluntarily in rehab, and his central contract will not be renewed after he disclosed his drug addiction. In a statement, Zimbabwe Cricket referred to "a history of disciplinary issues and repeated unavailability, which has impacted team preparations and performance".

Williams, 39, has played 273 matches for Zimbabwe across all formats in more than 20 years of his career, however, Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that his contract will not be renewed beyond the end of 2025.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said, "ZC expects all contracted players to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and compliance with team protocols and anti-doping regulations. While ZC commends him for seeking rehabilitation, withdrawal from team commitments under circumstances involving potential testing raises serious concerns regarding professional and ethical standards. ZC sincerely acknowledges and appreciates his immense contribution to Zimbabwean cricket over the past two decades. Williams has played a pivotal role in some of the most significant moments in our recent history, leaving a lasting legacy both on and off the field. ZC wishes him strength in his recovery, and every success in his future endeavours. "

Anti Doping Code In Cricket

Like all sports, even cricket ha its mandatory program for drug testing, governed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Doping Code, fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The ICC follows the WADA's Prohibited List, which is updated every year on January 1. For any drug to be added to the prohibited list, the drug must meet two of the three following criteria:

There is evidence that the substance or method has the potential to enhance, or does enhance performance,

There is evidence that the substance or method represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete, and WADA has determined that use of the substance or method violates the spirit of sport.

The ICC also notes that cricketers consuming supplements must be at the lookout for any drug that it contains from the prohibited list. The ICC notes that unlike the pharmaceutical industry, supplement industry is not controlled by strict regulation therefore, the drugs could be consume through the supplement. Thus, the cricketers are "encouraged to strongly consider the risks of using supplements before doing so and exercise extreme caution if choosing using supplements".

What All Are Prohibited?

The ICC on its website has a Prohibited List, which contains the list of substances and methods that are prohibited in cricket.

Under the prohibited list, are the Stimulants, including Specified Substances like 4-Fluoromethylphenidate,3-Methylhexan-2-amine or Cathine. The list also contains certain exceptions in the stimulants. The list further prohibits use of narcotics, especially diamorphine or heroin, it prohibits cannabinoids, like hashish, marijuana, or any cannabis products, and glucocorticoids, which could be administered by any injectable, oral, or rectal route.