Scott Swift, 73, pop singer Taylor Swift's dad just underwent a quintuple bypass surgery, revealed Taylor during one of the episodes of Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast.

She also shared that she had moved in with her dad earlier this year to take care of him for a speedy recovery. She noted that her father has been full of gratitude after the surgery. "He was the loveliest patient ever. He just kept saying thank you over and over again."

Why Did Scott Swift Need A Surgery?

Taylor called the surgery "really intense" and said that her dad's heart always had a healthy ECG or electrocardiogram. He also ensures to get it every year to remain a step ahead of any physical ailments. However, five hard blockages were found in his heart during a resting stress test.

"He's been telling all his friends, 'You need to get the stress test,' because that's what's actually preventative. If you can find that earlier, you don't have to have a bypass surgery," she said.

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Taylor confirmed that her father is doing "incredibly well" and that his humor has helped him go through during the hard times. It still is very much intact in him.

She shares that he did not know how many blockages he's had, on being told that he underwent a quintuple bypass, which means five blockages, he also joked about it. "Well, you see, I come from a very competitive family," he told Taylor.

What Is A Stress Test?

As per the National Institute of Health (NIH), US, it is a form of physical test that typically utilizes electrocardiography along with blood pressure monitoring and exercise, which involves a treadmill or bicycle.

However, in a resting stress test, the assessment happens when the heart muscle is at rest after stress. This stress helps in identifying areas of reduced blood flow like ischemia or damage to the heart muscle, which can indicate conditions like coronary artery disease.

The test involves injecting a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream, then using a special camera to take images of the heart at rest and after stress.

What Is A Bypass Surgery?

As per Johns Hopkins Medicine, bypass surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is a procedure used to treat coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the coronary arteries. These are the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. CAD is caused by a build-up of fatty material within the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the inside of the arteries, limiting the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

How Does It Work?

One way to treat the blocked or narrowed arteries is to bypass the blocked portion of the coronary artery with a piece of a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in your body. Blood vessels, or grafts, used for the bypass procedure may be pieces of a vein from your leg or an artery in your chest. An artery from your wrist may also be used.

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This surgery is done to treat a blockage or narrowing of one or more of the coronary arteries. It can restore the blood supply to your heart muscle when nonsurgical procedures are not a choice.

More Updates From The Swift Family

In addition to Scott, Taylor shared that her mom Andrea Swift, too, under a procedure. “My mom just got a new knee,” Taylor shared. “She’s doing great. She’s scampering around. We’re not quite at scampering yet, but she’s doing great.”

She noted that her parents are her best friends.

"It was actually one of the most special things that's ever happened to me, spending all that time with them this summer. You have those long talks that you don't have when it's a small, concentrated period of time.”

Health officials confirmed Thursday that a fourth person has died amid a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem, marking a sobering milestone in a crisis that has sickened dozens over the past several weeks. At least 17 people have required hospitalization, and investigators have traced the source to contaminated cooling towers on multiple buildings, including facilities operated by the city itself.

The outbreak, first detected in late July, has drawn national attention not only because of its toll but also because it highlights how modern urban infrastructure can become a breeding ground for public health emergencies.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that Legionella bacteria were discovered in 12 cooling towers across 10 buildings in Central Harlem. Among them were a city-run hospital and a sexual health clinic. While remediation efforts—chemical cleaning and disinfection—have been completed in 11 of the towers, one site is still undergoing treatment, with work expected to be completed by Friday.

Dr. Michelle Morse, the city’s acting health commissioner, said that new cases in the outbreak have begun to decline, a sign that interventions are working. Still, she urged residents and workers in the area to remain vigilant. “If you live or work in the area and experience flu-like symptoms, don’t ignore them. Seek medical care immediately,” Morse emphasized.

Legionnaires’ disease is not a new illness, but its outbreaks can be deadly when detection and intervention lag. It is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in warm, fresh water. Humans typically become infected after inhaling microscopic water droplets carrying the bacteria. Common sources include:

Cooling towers used for air conditioning in large buildings

Hot tubs or spas

Decorative water fountains or water features

Shower heads and plumbing systems with stagnant warm water

Unlike the flu or COVID-19, Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person. Exposure occurs strictly through environmental sources. Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure and include cough, fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can lead to respiratory failure or even death if not treated promptly.

Why Cooling Towers Are at the Center of This Outbreak?

Cooling towers are large, open-air structures used in HVAC systems to regulate building temperatures. They work by evaporating water into the air, which creates a potential highway for Legionella bacteria to spread if the system isn’t properly maintained.

In the Harlem outbreak, investigators linked multiple positive test results to cooling towers, some in city-managed facilities. While remediation has been swift, the presence of contaminated systems in public infrastructure has raised questions about maintenance oversight and whether preventive inspections were thorough enough.

The city has stressed that Harlem’s tap water remains safe. Residents can drink, cook, bathe, and use their home air conditioners without fear, as the outbreak is tied to building cooling towers and not the municipal water supply.

Although anyone can technically develop Legionnaires’ disease after exposure, the CDC identifies certain groups as being particularly vulnerable:

Adults aged 50 and older

People with chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney or liver failure

Individuals with weakened immune systems due to cancer or immunosuppressive therapy

Current and former smokers

For these groups, infection can quickly escalate into a life-threatening illness. In Harlem, health officials have not released personal details of the four deceased, but historically, fatalities are more common in patients with preexisting health conditions.

While this outbreak has drawn headlines, Legionnaires’ disease is not rare in the United States. Each year, an estimated 6,000 cases are reported nationwide, though experts believe the actual number is likely higher due to underdiagnosis or confusion with other types of pneumonia.

In New York State alone, 200 to 800 cases are logged annually. Outbreaks are more common in the warmer months, when building cooling systems are running at full capacity. The clustering of cases in Harlem fits this seasonal trend.

Legionnaires’ disease is treatable with antibiotics, but timing is critical. Complications are far less likely when treatment begins early. Delayed diagnosis, however, can lead to hospitalization, respiratory failure, or death.

Because symptoms mimic flu or COVID-19—cough, fever, fatigue—there is a real risk of misdiagnosis, particularly in busy emergency rooms or among patients who delay seeking care. This is why city officials are urging anyone in Harlem experiencing respiratory symptoms to contact a doctor immediately.

Public Health Lessons from the New York City-Harlem Outbreak

This outbreak underscores how even well-developed cities remain vulnerable to waterborne pathogens. While most building managers are required to monitor and maintain cooling towers, lapses can occur. Public health experts argue that consistent surveillance and more frequent testing could prevent outbreaks from spiraling into fatalities.

The fact that multiple city-run facilities tested positive raises accountability questions. If publicly managed cooling towers are not adequately maintained, residents may rightly wonder how effectively private facilities are being monitored.

With remediation nearly complete, health officials are cautiously optimistic that the outbreak is winding down. But for Harlem residents, the toll is already evident: dozens sickened, at least four lives lost, and renewed anxiety over the invisible risks that can lurk in everyday infrastructure.

Are NYC’s Cooling Towers Really the Problem?

The current outbreak has been traced to contaminated cooling towers in Central Harlem, but experts caution that cooling towers are not the only potential source of Legionella bacteria. Water systems such as hot tubs, fountains, and even poorly maintained plumbing can harbor the bacteria under the right conditions.

Still, cooling towers have historically been linked to some of the city’s largest outbreaks because of how they function: large volumes of warm water are exposed to air, creating mist that can drift and carry bacteria over entire neighborhoods. When maintenance lapses occur, the bacteria can multiply rapidly, turning these structures into powerful amplifiers of infection.

New York City has strict regulations requiring routine testing and cleaning of cooling towers, introduced after a major 2015 outbreak in the Bronx. However, enforcement remains a challenge, particularly with thousands of towers across the five boroughs. The fact that several city-run buildings tested positive in this outbreak suggests gaps not only in private oversight but in municipal compliance as well.

So yes, cooling towers appear central to this outbreak, but they are best understood as part of a broader problem: any water system left untreated can become a breeding ground for Legionella.

August’s scorching weather has made even short trips outside exhausting and turned nights into sweaty, sleepless ordeals. With no air conditioning in many homes, people are using ice packs, wet towels, frozen water bottles and electric fans to cope. But a fan might not be doing you any favours; in fact, if you use it the wrong way, it could be raising your risk of a heart attack.

What the study says

A new study from the University of Sydney has found that while fans can make you feel blissful during a heatwave, they can also push your body into dangerous territory, particularly if you’re dehydrated. Researchers wanted to understand exactly how fans affect our bodies in hot and humid conditions, so they put 20 volunteers into a climate-controlled space set to 39.2 degrees Celsius with 49 per cent humidity.

The participants weren’t just asked to sit there and suffer. Scientists tracked their heart rate, core temperature, sweating, and comfort levels, both when they were properly hydrated and when they had been deliberately dehydrated (by avoiding fluids and water-rich foods for 24 hours). Each hydration state was tested twice — once with a fan blowing and once without.

Sweat, strain, and a shocking finding

The study revealed that using a fan while dehydrated increased sweat losses by around 60 per cent. Now, sweating might sound like a good thing when you’re overheating, but in this case, it pushed the body into a dangerous loop: more sweat loss means more dehydration, which means more cardiovascular strain. That extra strain can, in extreme cases, trigger heart attacks, particularly in vulnerable individuals.

Connor Graham, PhD, who led the study, explained that fans can help keep you cooler at temperatures up to around 39–40 degrees Celsius. But when the air gets hotter than your skin, the fan can actually heat your body faster than it can cool itself. Most extreme heat decedents do not have air conditioning but often own electric fans, he said. In hotter conditions, fans should be turned off, as they can worsen heat stress.

Why hydration is important

The study says that hydration is a game-changer. When the volunteers were well hydrated, fans were far less risky, even in the extreme heat chamber. But when hydration levels were low, the fan’s effects tipped from helpful to harmful, sending heart rate and body strain higher.

This is because sweat is our body’s primary cooling mechanism. When you’re hydrated, you can produce enough sweat to evaporate and take heat away from your body. But if you’re already running on empty, a fan simply accelerates fluid loss without actually cooling you enough. That’s like trying to run your car on fumes while flooring the accelerator.

Heatwaves, Britain, and fan habits

In the UK, people are not exactly built for this kind of weather. Their homes are designed to trap warmth, not keep it out, which is why fans are practically flying off the shelves in high street stores right now. But unlike in countries where air conditioning is the norm, we often rely on fans as our only cooling option and that’s where this warning matters.

It’s easy to assume that “more fan” means “more cool”. The reality is a bit more complicated. In moderately hot weather, a fan can help your sweat evaporate and keep you feeling comfortable. In extreme heat, particularly if your flat feels like a slow cooker, a fan can just push hot air onto your body, speeding up dehydration and heart strain.

How to use fans safely in a heatwave

Don’t chuck your fan in the bin just yet. Here are some science-backed ways to stay safe while keeping cool:

• Stay hydrated first — Drink water regularly throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty. Herbal teas and diluted juices also count.
• Use fans strategically — Aim them across your body, not directly at your face, and combine them with open windows to improve airflow.
• Cool the room, not just yourself — Place a bowl of ice in front of the fan so it blows chilled air.
• Turn it off during extreme heat — If indoor temperatures are hotter than 40 degrees Celsius (or feel like it), skip the fan and switch to other cooling methods.
• Know your limits — Older adults, people with heart conditions, and those on certain medications are more vulnerable to heat strain.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is urging residents to monitor for symptoms of measles after confirming the city’s fifth case of the year. Officials say the individual, who has not been identified, likely contracted the virus while travelling in western Canada. While the risk to the general public remains low, OPH warns that certain people may have been exposed at specific locations around the city between August 5 and 8.

Potential Exposure Sites in Ottawa

In its Thursday alert, OPH listed several businesses and venues where possible exposure could have occurred:

• Shoppers Drug Mart, 702 Bank St., Aug. 5 from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Michaels, 165 Trainyards Dr., Aug. 5 from 8:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Fitness Lab, 34 Beech St., Aug. 6 from 5:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
• Wilf and Ada’s, 510 Bank St., Aug. 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Izakaya Shingen, 201 Bank St., Aug. 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cineplex Odeon, 2385 City Park Dr., Aug. 8 during the 6:50 p.m. screening of Fantastic Four: First Steps

Officials advise anyone who visited these locations during the listed times to watch for symptoms such as cough, fever, red eyes, and rash for 21 days after the possible exposure.

Exposure at Ottawa Hospital’s Emergency Department

The Ottawa Hospital has confirmed the same patient visited the General campus emergency department on August 11, waiting for several hours before being assessed in the early hours of August 12. Dr. Eric Eckbo, an infection control physician at the hospital, said measles was suspected during the examination. Infection control measures, including masking and isolation, were immediately implemented, and OPH was contacted.

Hospital staff are now following up with anyone who may have been exposed during that time, including immune-compromised individuals at higher risk of complications. Most people exposed will not develop measles due to immunity from vaccination or previous infection.

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Part of a Larger Outbreak

Ontario has been dealing with a significant measles outbreak this year, with 2,362 cases reported as of August 12, according to Public Health Ontario. Two of Ottawa’s five cases are linked to this provincial outbreak. Alberta is also experiencing a large number of cases, with dozens of new infections reported weekly.

No Local Transmission Detected

Despite these numbers, OPH says there is still no evidence of local measles transmission in Ottawa in 2025. Health officials credit this to high vaccination coverage in the community. However, they stress that measles remains one of the most contagious viruses and that the measles-containing vaccine is the most effective protection.

Advice for the Public

People who develop symptoms are urged to contact their primary healthcare provider before visiting any medical facility. If a hospital visit is necessary, they should wear a mask and inform staff immediately upon arrival. Those unable to get vaccinated, such as infants and people with compromised immune systems, are particularly vulnerable and should take extra precautions.

Canada eliminated measles in the 1990s due to strong vaccination programs, but declining immunization rates worldwide are fueling its return. Ottawa health officials are reminding residents that staying up to date on vaccinations remains the best way to prevent outbreaks.