National Emphysema Foundation E cigarettes are Poor Substitutes for Conventional Smoking in COPD Patients 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, 5 ways that vaping can damage your body Vaping linked to higher COPD risk, meta analysis finds Inhalation Toxicology of Vaping Products and Implications for Pulmonary Health Vaping is not harmless. A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that e cigarettes significantly increase the risk of COPD and high blood pressure. Our own Dr. Todd Hoopman shares firsthand accounts