Create an Asthma Action Plan

Your asthma action plan should include:

• Factors that make your asthma worse, "asthma triggers"
• Medicines you take to treat your asthma with specific names of each medicine
• Symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) that indicate worsening asthma
• Medicines to take based on your signs, symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used)
• Symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) that indicate the need for urgent medical attention
• Telephone numbers for an emergency contact, your healthcare provider, and your local hospital

An asthma action plan is divided into three zones (green, yellow and red). The green zone is where you want to be on a daily basis. In this zone, you have no asthma symptoms and you feel good. Continue to take your long-term control medicine(s) even if you're feeling well. The yellow zone means that you are experiencing symptoms. This is where you should slow down and follow the steps including the use of your quick-relief medicine to keep your asthma from getting worse. And, the red zone means you are experiencing severe asthma symptoms or an asthma flare-up. Follow the steps in your asthma action plan and get immediate medical treatment if your symptoms do not improve.

You should work with your healthcare provider to determine your zones. Your asthma action plan can be based on peak flow rate or asthma symptoms.

• Peak Flow Rate: Your healthcare provider may want you to use peak flow monitoring, especially if you have moderate to severe asthma. Your peak flow rate can show if your asthma is getting worse, even before you feel symptoms. Your peak flow rate is measured with a peak flow meter. To use your peak flow rate to determine the zones on your asthma action plan, you first need to spend some time determining your personal best. Your personal best is the highest peak flow number you achieve in a two- to three-week period. Your healthcare provider will use your personal best peak flow rate to calculate the zones in your asthma action plan.
• Symptoms: Another way to monitor your asthma control is to track your symptoms. Common asthma symptoms that indicate a problem include:
  • Daytime symptoms (cough, wheeze or chest tightness)
  • Problems with activity level (working, exercising or playing)
  • Nighttime symptoms

Your asthma action plan will include your medicines and instructions for what to do when you are feeling well, what to do when you have asthma symptoms and what to do when your asthma symptoms are getting worse. It should include the names of your medicines, how much to take and when to take it. The dose and frequency may change depending on your asthma zone.

The Red Zone of your asthma action plan tells you the steps you need to take in an emergency. This portion of your plan should include: emergency telephone numbers for the doctor, emergency department, rapid transportation and family/friends for support.

• Long-term control medicines (also called controller, maintenance or anti-inflammatory medicines) help prevent asthma symptoms by controlling the swelling in your lungs and decreasing mucus production. These medicines work slowly but help control your asthma for hours. They must be taken regularly (even when you don't have asthma symptoms) in order to work.
• Quick-relief medicines (sometimes called rescue medicines) relieve or stop asthma symptoms once they have started. They are inhaled and work quickly to relax the muscles that tighten around your airways. When the muscles relax, your airways open up and you breathe easier. Quick-relief medicines can be used before you exercise to avoid asthma symptoms.