Vaping: Understanding the Risks and Impacts on Health VAPING VS. SMOKING Both smoking and vaping have side effects and risks. The long term health effects of electronic cigarettes (e cigarettes) are not fully understood, but the science indicates they are not a 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 I be Affected by Secondhand Vape Smoke?