E cigarettes use in the United States: reasons for use, perceptions, and effects on health BMC Public Health Springer Nature Link Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops over decades and we are missing the window to prevent it 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, Health effects in COPD smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes: a COPD Dove Medical Press