Fitting your Asthma Action Plan into your life

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An asthma plan is a written guide that helps you manage your condition and tells you what to do when your asthma is under control,

when symptoms are getting worse, and when you're having an emergency. Think about it like any other healthy habit,

just like choosing a salad instead of fries or water instead of a soda. An asthma plan can fit into your life and help you better manage your asthma.

It's important to review your asthma plan at least once a year with your doctor, or when your symptoms or treatment

changes. WOMAN: An asthma plan is generally broken into three zones-- green, yellow, and red, kind of like a stoplight.

You're in the green zone when your asthma is controlled. You're not having asthma symptoms and your peak flow is 80% or more of your personal best.

The green zone means all clear. It contains your daily asthma plan, how to take your medications as directed,

and how to track your peak flow, symptoms, triggers, and puffs of quick relief gets. You in the yellow zone when your asthma symptoms are

worsening and your peak flow is 50% to 79% of your personal best. It contains instructions about taking quick relief meds

and whether you need to change your control medications. The yellow zone also contains a warning zone, which tells you to call your doctor right

away if your symptoms worsen or don't improve in 24 hours. The red zone is the emergency zone.

You're having lots of problems breathing and your peak flow is less than 50% of your personal best. You're also in the red zone if you've

been in the warning zone for over 24 hours. The red zone means get help now. It gives you information on which quick relief meds to take

and how often, what meds to add, when to call your doctor, and when to call 9-1-1. Your asthma plan also has a section

where you can write questions for your health care provider and a lifestyle section with tips on healthy eating and exercising with asthma.