COPD What Smoking is Really Doing to Your Lungs ABILITY Magazine Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Temple Health 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, Vaping and Increased Risk of COPD