Vaping vs. Smoking: What Does the Science Actually Say? As public health discussions intensify, the debate between vaping and smoking is often filled with confusion. For professionals in healthcare, policy, or anyone COPD Symptoms and causes Mayo Clinic E cigarette use increases risk for developing major respiratory diseases 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, A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that those using e cigarettes alone were more than twice as likely to develop COPD than people who didn't use any tobacco products,