E cigarette use tied to increased COPD, asthma risk MDedge Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both forms of COPD but affect different parts of the lungs. Emphysema damages the air sacs (alveoli), causing shortness of breath, while bronchitis inflames and narrows the Smoking poses severe dangers to lung health, including: 1. Lung Cancer Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, increasing the risk of developing this deadly disease. 2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( Understanding COPD: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options Vaping and Lung Damage: What Pulmonologists Want You to Know Smoking, Vaping and Increased Risk of COPD