Despite the well-known harmful consequences of smoking, many smokers face difficulties in quitting this habit. However, a new study demonstrates that data obtained from personal wearable devices, which accurately show the impact of smoking on the body, can be a key factor in helping smokers stop using tobacco.
A significant study conducted by the wearable device brand Whoop and published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth analyzed over 12,000 new participants over 72 weeks. It was found that continuous health monitoring correlates with a significant and sustained reduction in tobacco consumption, and these reductions correspond to measurable improvements in cardiovascular health and sleep quality.
According to the study data, the probability of daily tobacco use among participants who reported smoking dropped from 55.1 percent at registration to only 27.2 percent after 72 weeks. By the end of the study, more than one in four participants—28.2 percent of those who initially used tobacco—had completely quit.
The study detailed what happens to the body on days when tobacco is consumed. Compared to non-tobacco days, days when tobacco was used were characterized by the following parameters:
The study also conducted a regional analysis of Whoop participants in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which revealed similar trends, albeit with noticeable differences. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) showed the lowest proportion of recorded tobacco use days among GCC countries (58.6 percent) but demonstrated the largest observed physiological differences in the region. On days of tobacco use, UAE participants experienced a noticeable decrease in HRV, an increase in resting heart rate and respiratory rate, as well as a loss of nearly three minutes of sleep.
Dr. Greg Grosick explained the significance of this data: 'Larger physiological differences are expected when participants smoke less, as there are more non-use days for comparison. These results reflect the contrast between days, not greater harm in the UAE.' He also noted that people continue to smoke despite knowing the risks because abstract knowledge of the problem differs from its personal feeling. Dr. Grosick emphasized that wearable devices bridge this gap by showing how tobacco affects a person's body over time.
Dr. Ihsan Almarzouki, co-founder and CEO of Metabolic (formerly GluCare.Health), agrees, stating that 'wearable devices make the invisible cost of the habit visible.' He added that most people do not realize what is happening in real-time until they see this data, after which quitting smoking ceases to be a moral issue and becomes a physiological one.
Nalla Karunaniti, Chief Digital Health and Omnichannel Solutions Officer at Aster DM Healthcare, stated that wearable devices personalize abstract risk. She gave an example: 'My 22 percent drop in HRV last night affects me differently than general warnings.'
Experts advise smokers who wish to quit to adopt a data-driven approach. Dr. Almarzouki advised starting to track metrics several days before the planned quit date, noting that an ideal baseline is not required; it is sufficient to know one's usual resting heart rate, HRV, and sleep for subsequent comparison. Karunaniti cautions against relying solely on willpower, recommending building structure: successful quitters avoid triggers, replace behaviors, and utilize social support. It is also helpful to have ready-made coping tactics for cravings, such as delaying or taking a short walk.
Dr. Grosick gave simple advice to those whose recovery metric drops on tobacco use days: 'Do not overemphasize one day. But if your recovery is consistently lower on days you smoke, your own body is telling you something. Try reducing the amount, observe the changes over several weeks, and let that determine your next step. It is harder to argue with your own data than with a health warning.'
Researchers warn that the introduction of Lenacapavir injections in South Africa, a long-acting drug for HIV prevention, has the potential to fundamentally change the approach to HIV prevention, but the success of this process will depend on ensuring equal access and strengthening community-level healthcare systems.
According to researchers and public health specialists addressed during the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) webinar on Wednesday, the successful rollout of the world's first injectable for HIV prevention may not meet expectations if long-standing obstacles to accessing medical services are not resolved.
Although the introduction of long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), known as Lenacapavir, represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against HIV, existing systemic barriers in the country continue to prevent many vulnerable groups from utilizing this medication.
South Africa officially began deploying Lenacapavir on June 5, becoming one of the first countries globally to integrate this injectable drug for HIV prevention into its national health program.
Implementation has started in specific healthcare facilities in the Western Cape province. The initial phase targets adolescents and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals.
Jacqueline Pina, a psychologist and public health specialist supporting the National Department of Health's adoption of Lenacapavir, noted that clinical trials confirmed the drug's high efficacy. However, she argued that the country's focus must shift to ensuring equitable access.
Pina emphasized that the main question for South Africa is not the functionality of the injection, but the ability to reach those in need. She questioned whether adolescents, young women, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and sex workers—who often avoid facilities due to stigma, discrimination, and humiliation—are being reached.
She stated that the current clinic-based approach risks excluding precisely the communities for whom this rollout is intended. Pina proposed making Lenacapavir available through community organizations, mobile aid groups, pharmacies, and youth-oriented services, asserting that HIV prevention should be delivered where people live, learn, and work, rather than requiring healthy citizens to travel to clinics.
Pina also cautioned against repeating errors made during the implementation of oral PrEP, noting that limited information campaigns and targeted messaging contributed to increased stigma. She cited an example where the community might mistakenly perceive someone taking PrEP as promiscuous because it is associated with sex workers.
Instead of creating a separate HIV program, Pina insisted on integrating the injectable drug into sexual and reproductive health services alongside contraception, STI screening, and family planning services. She concluded that the innovation lies not only in the injection itself but in the method of its delivery, and the greatest risk is that the drug will be successfully implemented while the healthcare system fails to transform.
Dr. Zoe Dubbe, a senior researcher at the South African Council for Medical Research and an honorary fellow at the University of Cape Town, pointed out that adolescents and young women remain among the most at-risk populations for HIV infection, and pregnant and breastfeeding women also face elevated risks.
Dubbe believes that the success of Lenacapavir will depend on how acceptable and accessible the services become for these groups. She noted that judgments, gossip, rumors, fear of disclosure, and the inconvenience of clinic services can affect a young woman's consistent use of prevention. Therefore, not only is a clinically effective product important, but also the delivery model that ensures accessibility and acceptability.
She added that the program's success should be measured not only by the number of injections administered but also by whether people continue to receive their six-month doses regularly and remain protected during periods of highest HIV vulnerability.
Associate Professor Sakumzi Mkhize-Kaane of the University of the Western Cape stated that the realities of rural communities must be considered during deployment, where transportation difficulties, cultural norms, and limited healthcare access continue to affect male participation in HIV prevention programs. He stressed the need to meet men where they are, and not just the men themselves, but entire communities, as programs designed without considering the local context are unlikely to achieve full impact.
The Gauteng Health Department rejected claims by DA provincial legislator Madlen Hicklin that patients at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital are being deprived of vital medications, calling the accusations factually incorrect.
The Gauteng Health Department condemned Madlen Hicklin for her statements that patients at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are not receiving necessary medicines due to shortages, labeling the accusations as unfounded and misleading.
The Department stated that Hicklin's statements contained factual inaccuracies after hospital management contacted her following the publication of her statement on July 16. It was established that Hicklin claimed affected patients were in 'Ward 5,' but Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital does not have such a ward and uses a three-digit ward numbering system.
According to the department, Hicklin acknowledged this factual error during discussions with hospital management. However, it was noted that no public correction was issued, leaving information that the department called misleading in the public domain.
A representative of the Gauteng Health Department, Steve Mabona, stated: 'Unfortunately, no public correction was issued, leaving misleading information in the public domain.' He added that the department considers it irresponsible to make public accusations capable of causing panic and undermining trust in public healthcare before facts are verified.
The Department emphasized that most South Africans rely on public medical facilities as their sole source of healthcare, warning that careless remarks could deter patients from seeking necessary help. Mabona noted that while challenges exist within the public health system, they are constantly managed through established clinical and supply chain processes to ensure continuity of patient care.
He also stated that isolated operational issues should not be distorted in a way that unfairly damages public trust in medical institutions. The Department urged all public representatives, regardless of political affiliation, to exercise responsible oversight by verifying information before making public statements and correcting the public record when inaccuracies are found. Mabona concluded by stating: 'The Department remains committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that all Gauteng residents continue to receive quality, accessible, and compassionate healthcare.'
An Ebola outbreak in the DRC has resulted in the death of at least 189 children, according to data provided by the organization Save the Children. The epidemic was declared in the Congolese province of Ituri, located on the border with Uganda and South Sudan, which is the epicenter of the occurrence.
To date, it is estimated that about 476 children have contracted the disease in the region. The deceased children account for approximately one-fifth of the total confirmed deaths in this outbreak. Save the Children is providing psychosocial support to over 4,000 children in Ituri, establishing safe spaces where they can rest, play, and begin to overcome feelings of fear, sadness, and anxiety.
Organization staff reported that the disease has altered the social interaction of these children, as many avoid physical contact and maintain distance from others. Furthermore, Save the Children warned that some children may require temporary care outside their homes, either because they have been separated from parents or guardians due to the disease, isolation, abandonment, or death.
Babou Rukengeza, the NGO's Ebola response coordinator in the DRC, highlighted the great emotional weight carried by the children of Ituri, mentioning that many witnessed acts of violence, lost family members to the outbreak, or were forced to move repeatedly. He emphasized that the safe spaces provide an environment conducive for them to express their emotions, regain confidence, and return to living as children.
The organization stressed that this outbreak constitutes a 'second crisis' for many children who were already displaced by violence in eastern Congo, an area historically marked by conflicts between armed groups and the army. It was warned that prolonged stress during childhood can lead to lasting consequences on children's cognitive development, emotional well-being, and physical and mental health if adequate assistance is not provided.
According to the latest government bulletin, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded a total of 2,423 confirmed Ebola cases, with 967 deaths registered, establishing a fatality rate of 39.9%. The epidemic is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, whose mortality rate varies between 30% and 50%, and for which the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there is no authorized vaccine or specific treatment. The WHO classifies the risk of the outbreak spreading in Sub-Saharan Africa as 'high' and globally as 'low.'
This event marks the third worst Ebola epidemic in history and the 17th affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people or animals and causes severe hemorrhagic fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding.
