What COPD Patients Should Know About Vaping and E Cigarettes LPT Medical Safer Than Smoking? Vaping Tied to Alarming Rise in COPD Cases Discover Magazine 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 and Vaping Just As Bad On Lung Health As Cigarettes Smoking and vaping are often compared, but neither is harmless. While they work differently, both can expose the lungs to addictive nicotine and harmful chemicals that impact breathing and overall health. Smoking