Asthma Guide for Teens:

Asthma Action Plan

 

What is Asthma?	Treatment
Common Symptoms	When to Get Help
Causes and Triggers	Asthma Action Plan
Dealing with Triggers	Living with Asthma
Exercise Induced Asthma	Resources
Getting Diagnosed

An asthma action plan is a proactive way to keep your asthma under control. It is written with your health care provider (HCP) and is personalized (just for you) An asthma plan has 3 zones – green, yellow, and red.

• The green zone lists what medications you should take when you are feeling well.
• The yellow zone tells you what to do at the first sign of a cough, cold, or wheeze.
• The red zone tells you what to do if your Albuterol isn’t helping, or if you are very short of breath.

The idea behind having a “plan” is having important information such as: steps you need to take to stay symptom-free, a list of your medicines - the doses and how often you take them, your HCP’s phone number, and a list of your asthma triggers, so you can have all these facts in one central location. You can make a copy of your action plan and keep it with you. An asthma action plan also includes simple and clear instructions about how to identify early symptoms of an “asthma flare-up”, how to treat them, and when to go to the emergency room. You should feel comfortable talking with your HCP about your action plan and update it as things change.

 

What can I do to help keep my asthma under control?

You should be able to keep your asthma under control if you do some of the things listed below:

• Take your prescribed daily control medication(s) EVERY DAY, especially when you are feeling well.
• Avoid triggers that bother you and make your asthma worse.
• Always keep your Albuterol inhaler close by – many teens report that they can’t find their inhaler when they need it.
• Make sure that all “pump spray” medications are used with a spacer device!
• Make sure that prescriptions for all asthma medications – controller and quick-relief - are current and not expired.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle - eat healthy foods, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
• DO NOT SMOKE!
• See your health care provider regularly.

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Written by the CYWH and YMH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 9/4/2009