Its about time that you think twice before taking your next cigarette puff. If you fall under the category of people with a common genetic defect, you are even more prone to be haunted by an early heart attack.

We've come into contact with such fascinating stories as: “Someone's great-uncle has smoked three packs of cigarettes since he was 14, and now, at the age of 88, he's living a fine, healthy life”, Arthur Moss, M.D., director of the Heart Research Follow-up Program, University of Rochester Medical Center, was quoted remarking. Scientists have finally found a rational explanation behind such miracles happening, saying they know exactly why some smokers end up being luckier than others: they are not affected by the defect of the CETP (cholesterol ester transfer protein) gene, which is otherwise traced in about 50 percent to 70 percent of the common population.

The CETP gene is essentially responsible for regulating a person's good cholesterol, high-density lipo proteins, which are in turn instrumental in filtering out bad cholesterol, low-density lipo proteins and other similar impurities out of the blood.

A smoker suffering from such a defect could be attacked by a heart attack way earlier, that is, almost 12 years earlier than a smoker who doesn't suffer from such a defect. This makes  their hearts prone to attacks at the average age of 52. Dr. Moss quoted, “If you're a smoker and you don't carry the CETP variation, you have the same risk for heart disease as a non-smoker carrying the same gene”.

This piece is not for you to give up hope yet. Getting rid of this life-threating habit can add substantial number of years to your life. Go for it.