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, Cigarette smoke can reprogram cells in your airways, causing pulmonary disease to hang on after smoking ends E Cigarettes May Cause COPD. Here's Why Prince Court Medical Centre New Study Links E Cigarette Use to Increased Risk of COPD and Hypertension