Living with Asthma
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.
Create your own Asthma Action Plan
Click below to download a fillable PDF for your use.
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?
- 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.
On This Page
- Asthma Action Plans
- Green Zone: Doing Well?
- Yellow Zone: Getting worse?
- Red Zone: Medical alert?
