Can COPD stay mild? The breathing problems COPD causes tend to get worse over time and can limit your normal activities. But treatment can help keep the condition under control. There are four stages of COPD. The Gold Standard for grading COPD is based on your symptoms, your spirometry results, the chances that your COPD will get worse, and the presence of other health problems. This short animation shows how the disease progresses from very mild to very severe. Find out if you're at risk of sev