Vaping doubles risk of serious lung disease, even without smoking history study Professor Erwin Loh Vaping linked to higher COPD risk, meta analysis finds 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, COPD Patients Who Switch From Smoking to Vaping See Long Term Benefits The Troubling Truth About COPD and Vaping University of Maryland Medical System Health Hub