Timing of 1st cigarette may play role in risk

You know smoking isn't good for you. But does it matter when you have that

first cigarette each day?

That first cigarette of the day can be a necessity for those addicted to nicotine. Now, research shows when a smoker lights up matters -- and may prove

to be a drag in more ways than one.

Italian researchers looked at data from more than 4,000 people to study the link between lung cancer risk and the timing of a smoker's first cigarette of the day.

Lung cancer risk for those who lit up within 5 minutes of waking was more than triple that of smokers who waited at least an hour.

The study held true for both light and heavy smokers.