The Relationship Between Emphysema and COPD PAM Health 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, Emphysema vs. COPD: Stages and Prognosis Compared Systematic review with meta analysis of the epidemiological evidence relating smoking to COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema BMC Pulmonary Medicine Springer Nature Link