Living with Asthma

Asthma Action Plans

Everyone with asthma needs their own Asthma Action Plan. Work with your health care provider to create a plan that works for you. Your goal is to prevent and control your asthma attacks.

Green Zone: Doing Well?

If I'm doing well...

• I don't have cough, wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing at any time.
• I can do all the things I usually do.
• When I use a peak flow meter my peak flow* is more than 80 percent or more of my best peak flow.
• Continue taking your daily controller medicine.

*Peak flow measurement is a quick test to measure air flowing out of the lungs.

Yellow Zone: Getting worse?

If my asthma is getting worse...

• I have some cough, wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing. Or
• I wake up at night because of my asthma. Or
• I can't do some of the things I usually do. Or
• When I use a peak flow meter my peak flow* is half to about three quarters of my best peak flow.
• Add your reliever medicine and continue your daily controller medicine.
• If your symptoms get better after an hour keep checking them and continue your daily controller medicine.

Red Zone: Medical alert?

If I'm having a medical alert...

• I have a lot of trouble breathing. Or
• My reliever medicines don't help. Or
• I can't do any of the things I usually do. Or
• I was in the yellow zone for 24 hours and I'm not getting better. Or
• When I use a peak flow meter my peak flow* is less than half of my best peak flow.
• Add any other medicines your doctor has prescribed and call your doctor.
• If your symptoms don't get better and you can't reach your doctor, go to the hospital.

*Peak flow measurement is a quick test to measure air flowing out of the lungs.