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, Vaping Nicotine Impairs Airway Clearance RT COPD Symptoms and causes Mayo Clinic Gender, tobacco and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: analysis of the 2020 National Health Interview Survey BMJ Open Respiratory Research E cigarette use increases risk for developing major respiratory diseases