Green light! The paramount importance of having an asthma action plan.
Understanding Your Roadmap to Asthma Control: How an Asthma Action Plan Works… and why having a peak flow meter is so important
An asthma action plan is a vital, personalized written document created in partnership with your doctor. Its primary goal is to help you effectively manage your asthma, reduce or prevent flare-ups, and minimize the need for emergency medical visits. Think of it as a clear roadmap guiding your daily asthma care and outlining specific steps to take when your symptoms change.
Key Components and How They Function:
At its core, an asthma action plan is built around a zone system, often color-coded like a traffic light (Green, Yellow, and Red), to help you easily understand your current level of asthma control and what actions to take:
Green Zone (Go): This is your "all clear" zone, indicating that your asthma is well-controlled.
Symptoms: You'll likely experience no coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath, and you can perform your usual activities without limitation.
Peak Flow: If you use a peak flow meter, your readings will typically be 80% to 100% of your personal best.
Actions: Continue taking your daily long-term control (preventer) medications as prescribed, even when you feel well. This is crucial for maintaining control. The plan will list these medications and their dosages.
Yellow Zone (Caution/Slow Down): This zone signals that your asthma is worsening or you're experiencing a flare-up.
Symptoms: You might notice symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, waking up at night due to asthma, or a decreased ability to perform usual activities.
Peak Flow: Your peak flow readings may fall to 50% to 79% of your personal best.
Actions: Your plan will instruct you to use your quick-relief (rescue) inhaler. It will specify the medication, dosage, and how often you can take it. It may also include instructions for temporarily increasing your control medications or adding other specific medicines. You'll be advised to monitor your symptoms closely and identify what might have triggered the flare-up. If your symptoms don't improve or if you frequently find yourself in the yellow zone, you'll need to contact your doctor.
Red Zone (Danger/Medical Alert!): This indicates a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
Symptoms: You are experiencing severe shortness of breath, your quick-relief medications are not helping or are needed very frequently (e.g., every few hours), you have difficulty walking or talking, or your lips or fingernails are turning blue.
Peak Flow: Your peak flow readings will likely be below 50% of your personal best.
Actions: The plan will provide clear instructions to use your quick-relief medication right away and to call your doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. It will include emergency contact information for your doctor, hospital, and possibly family members or friends.
Beyond the Zones:
An effective asthma action plan also includes other critical information:
Your Asthma Triggers: A list of specific factors that can make your asthma worse (e.g., pollen, dust mites, smoke, cold air, exercise). The plan helps you identify and avoid these triggers.
Your Medications: A comprehensive list of all your asthma medications, including their names, dosages, when and how to take them, and the purpose of each (long-term control vs. quick relief).
Peak Flow Monitoring: If applicable, it will detail your personal best peak flow number and the peak flow readings that correspond to each zone.
Emergency Contacts: Phone numbers for your doctor, emergency medical services, and trusted contacts.
When to Seek Further Medical Attention: Clear guidance on when to call your doctor versus when to seek emergency care.
Development and Personalization:
An asthma action plan is not a one-size-fits-all document. It's developed collaboratively between you (or your child's caregiver) and your healthcare provider. Your doctor will assess the severity of your asthma, your specific symptoms, your known triggers, and how you respond to medications. If you use a peak flow meter, your personal best reading will be established over a period of good asthma control to help define your zones.
Using Your Plan Effectively:
Daily Management: Refer to the Green Zone for your routine medication schedule.
Recognizing Worsening Symptoms: Be aware of the signs that move you into the Yellow Zone and follow the prescribed steps promptly to prevent further escalation.
Emergency Situations: Know the Red Zone instructions and act quickly in an emergency.
Share Your Plan: Provide copies to family members, caregivers, and, for children, to their school, daycare, and coaches, so they know how to help during an asthma episode.
Keep it Accessible: Store your plan in an easily reachable place and consider keeping a photo of it on your phone.
Regular Review and Updates are Crucial:
Asthma can change over time, so your action plan needs to be a living document. It's essential to review and update your asthma action plan with your doctor regularly – typically every six months for children and annually for adults, or sooner if your asthma control changes, you've had a significant flare-up, or your medications are adjusted. Regular reviews ensure your plan remains accurate and effective for managing your asthma.
Download an asthma action plan sheet here.
