Vaping linked to higher COPD risk, meta analysis finds 5 things EMS providers need to know about vaping injury implications Smoking cigarettes has long been proven to cause severe lung damage, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer. Over time, cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue, fills airways with tar, National Emphysema Foundation E cigarettes are Poor Substitutes for Conventional Smoking in COPD Patients