Asthma Action Plan, Adult

An asthma action plan helps you understand how to manage your asthma and what to do when you have an asthma attack. The action plan is a color-coded plan that lists the symptoms that indicate whether or not your condition is under control and what actions to take.

If you have symptoms in the green zone, you are doing well.
If you have symptoms in the yellow zone, you are having problems.
If you have symptoms in the red zone, you need medical care right away.

Follow the plan that you and your health care provider develop. Review your plan with your health care provider at each visit.

What triggers your asthma?

Knowing the things that can trigger an asthma attack or make your asthma symptoms worse is very important. Talk to your health care provider about your asthma triggers and how to avoid them. Record your known asthma triggers here: _______________

What is your personal best peak flow reading?

If you use a peak flow meter, determine your personal best reading. Record it here: _______________

Green zone

This zone means that your asthma is under control. You may not have any symptoms while you are in the green zone. This means that you:

Have no coughing or wheezing, even while you are working or playing.
Sleep through the night.
Are breathing well.
Have a peak flow reading that is above __________ (80% of your personal best or greater).

If you are in the green zone, continue to manage your asthma as directed.

Take these medicines every day:
- Controller medicine and dosage: _______________
- Controller medicine and dosage: _______________
- Controller medicine and dosage: _______________
- Controller medicine and dosage: _______________
Before exercise, use this reliever or rescue medicine: _______________

Call your health care provider if you are using a reliever or rescue medicine more than 2–3 times a week.

Yellow zone

Symptoms in this zone mean that your condition may be getting worse. You may have symptoms that interfere with exercise, are noticeably worse after exposure to triggers, or are worse at the first sign of a cold (upper respiratory infection). These may include:

Waking from sleep.
Coughing, especially at night or first thing in the morning.
Mild wheezing.
Chest tightness.
A peak flow reading that is __________ to __________ (50–79% of your personal best).

If you have any of these symptoms:

Add the following medicine to the ones that you use daily:
- Reliever or rescue medicine and dosage: _______________
- Additional medicine and dosage: _______________

Call your health care provider if:

You remain in the yellow zone for __________ hours.
You are using a reliever or rescue medicine more than 2–3 times a week.

Red zone

Symptoms in this zone mean that you should get medical help right away. You will likely feel distressed and have symptoms at rest that restrict your activity. You are in the red zone if:

You are breathing hard and quickly.
Your nose opens wide, your ribs show, and your neck muscles become visible when you breathe in.
Your lips, fingers, or toes are a bluish color.
You have trouble speaking in full sentences.
Your peak flow reading is less than __________ (less than 50% of your personal best).
Your symptoms do not improve within 15–20 minutes after you use your reliever or rescue medicine (bronchodilator).

If you have any of these symptoms:

These symptoms represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Use your reliever or rescue medicine.
- Start a nebulizer treatment or take 2–4 puffs from a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer.
- Repeat this action every 15–20 minutes until help arrives.

Where to find more information

You can find more information about asthma from:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
American Lung Association: www.lung.org

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.