What's an Asthma Action Plan?

An asthma action plan is a set of instructions that you create with your doctor to help you control your asthma. Following the plan can help you prevent flare-ups and deal with them if they do happen.

Having a written, step-by-step plan means that you don't have to memorize everything your doctor tells you about managing asthma. You can keep the plan with you or memorize key parts of it. It can help to keep an electronic copy of it on your phone or tablet, if possible.

The plan can help you make sure your asthma doesn't get in the way of playing sports, working out, going to parties, or doing whatever you want to do. Make it work for you!

What's in the Asthma Action Plan?

Asthma varies from person to person, so there isn't a one-size-fits-all asthma action plan. But all action plans will say what to do if you have a flare-up. The plan also will explain what medicines you need to take and when, and when you need to call the doctor or go to the ER.

Many action plans use a color-coded "zone system" to make it easy to figure out which instructions apply to you. This system is based on the colors of a traffic light. It uses symptoms to help you decide what zone your asthma is in:

• The green zone, or "doing well" zone, explains how to manage your asthma every day, when you're feeling good.
• The yellow zone, or caution zone, explains how to look for signs that your asthma is getting worse. It also says which medicines to use to bring your asthma back under control.
• The red zone, or danger zone, explains what to do when a flare-up is severe.

Your action plan also may include a list of triggers and how to avoid them, and things to do before exercising, if that's a trigger for you. It also has contact information for your doctor and where to go for emergency care.

Understanding Your Asthma Action Plan

For your asthma action plan to work, you have to follow it even when you feel OK. Review the plan with your doctor and make sure you understand it. Talk with your doctor if you have ideas for making the plan work better for you. For example, your doctor might change the time of day that you take your asthma medicine so it fits into your schedule.

Also tell your doctor if you don't seem to need medicine for quick relief of symptoms as much anymore, or if you are taking more puffs than usual for quick relief. Based on your report, your doctor might reduce or increase the amount of daily medicine you take to ease inflammation and control the symptoms.