Cigarette smoke can reprogram cells in your airways, causing pulmonary disease to hang on after smoking ends COPD and Vaping: Understanding the Risks and Long Term Effects 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, Can E cigarettes help COPD patients quit smoking and reduce harm to lungs?