Do You Have an Asthma Action Plan?

According to a recent survey in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, asthma is not controlled in 55 percent of Americans with moderate-to-severe asthma. Asthma management and written asthma action plans are the focus of updated guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Written asthma action plans have been associated with better lung function, and fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Recently, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. While the guidelines address several issues related to asthma, they stress the need for patients to understand how to monitor their symptoms every day, and to avoid triggers, or things that make their symptoms worse. After all, if patients can recognize when their symptoms are worsening, they can take steps to avoid a full-blown asthma attack.

One tool that helps patients monitor symptoms is called the asthma action plan. Individualized for each patient, an asthma action plan is a set of written instructions that helps patients recognize worsening symptoms and how to treat them. An asthma action plan is divided into three sections—the green zone, yellow zone and red zone—and lists the symptoms and actions a patient should take in each zone. In the green zone, for example, the patient is symptom-free and doing well. In the yellow zone, his or her symptoms are getting worse and may require treatment, such as quick-relief medicine. In the red zone, the symptoms are at their worst and require immediate medical attention. The plan also highlights ways to control asthma triggers.

Research has linked the asthma action plan to a decrease in emergency room visits, fewer hospitalizations and improved lung function. If you have asthma, talk with your doctor about a written asthma action plan.