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New research reveals that some smokers have a 72 percent higher chance of acquiring a deadly lung disease compared to other smokers due to their genetic makeup. Smoking, at present, remains as one of the leasing causes of death around the world.

Independent UK posts that COPDs or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases are commonly caused by smoking but also by air pollution, exposure to dust and chemical exposures at work. COPDs include emphysema and bronchitis.

By 2030, the World Health Organization is predicting that COPDs will land on the third spot of the leading causes of death in the world. Recent studies also reveal that some people are at greater risk of acquiring the disease due to their genetic makeup.

The research was conducted to over 24 million genetic differences among smokers and non-smokers to identify who among these subjects are at greater risk. According to the research, people who are more susceptible to the disease will most likely acquire the disease 3.7 times more likely compared to others. The data was gathered from 13 different countries from 350,000 people with the help of more than 100 scientists.

Further results also reveal that for every 100 people, 72 of them will most likely develop COPD in their lifetime. However, this number can be reduced if they stopped smoking in their early adulthood.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that a new method is being tested and developed at the Medical University of South Carolina to treat cigarette addiction. Psychologist Michael Saladin, current head of the "Extinction Therapy" research explains that by altering the environmental triggers that generally entices smokers to lit a cigarette, they become more disassociated with this triggers, thus slowly letting go of the cravings they have for smoking.

The hardest part of getting rid of the habit is the first few days and weeks right after quitting. Saladin and his team are looking for ways to fast-track this process to be able to make the initial withdrawal hurdle easier for smokers.

In the UK alone, there are about 900,000 people who have COPD. This simple implies that effective campaigns and treatments should be further developed to be able to prevent or identify COPD at an early stage for early treatment.