What are the symptoms of vaping illness? Doctors warn about e cigarettes Vaping for a month could cause bronchitis, shortness of breath, and other major respiratory symptoms, according to a study conducted by the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive 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, Young vapers at risk of bronchitis and shortness of breath even if they also smoke