Asthma Care Plans

Click to download an asthma care plan in English (159 KB pdf).

Click to download an asthma care plan in Spanish (374 KB pdf).

An asthma care plan contains written directions to help manage asthma. Developed by you and your doctor, the plan should list your medicines, how much to take and when to take them.

All plans are divided into three zones:
Green zone means go.
Yellow zone means caution.
Red zone means get help. 

You can tell which zone you are in at any moment by reading your asthma symptoms or by using a peak flow meter.

How you feel when you are in the green zone:

• Breathing is good.
• No coughing or wheezing.
• Can work and play.

How you feel when you are in the yellow zone:

• Need to cough.
• Wheezing.
• Tight chest.
• Wake up at night.

How you feel when you are in the red zone:

• Medicine is not helping.
• Breathing is hard and fast.
• Can't walk.
• Can't talk well.
• Ribs show.
• Nose opens wide.

Numbers read off a peak flow meter also can tell you which zone you are in. Talk to your doctor about which numbers on your peak flow meter correspond to each zone.

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Asthma Diaries

Click to download a printer-friendly asthma diary in English (90 KB pdf)

Click to download a printer-friendly asthma diary in Spanish (217 KB pdf)

An asthma diary is a record that helps you track your own asthma symptoms, how you are using medicines, peak flow numbers, and what triggers you have come in contact with.  Diaries can be used by you and your doctor to manage asthma over time.

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Peak Flow Meters

A peak flow meter will help you check how well your lungs are working and whether your medicine is helping. Using a peak flow meter every day will help let you know when your asthma is getting out of control even before you have symptoms.

Use your peak flow meter:

• Every morning when you wake up, before you take medicine.

• When you are having asthma symptoms.

• After taking medicine.

• Any other time your doctor suggests.

Click to download printer friendly driections (502 KB pdf)

USING A PEAK FLOW METER

1.  Stand or sit up straight.
2. Move the marker on the peak flow meter to the bottom of the scale.
3. Take a deep breath. Fill your lungs all the way.
4. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, between your teeth. Close your lips around it.  Do not put your tongue inside the hole.
5. Blow out as hard and as fast as you can; like you do when you blow out birthday candles.
6.  Read the number on the peak flow meter. Write it down. If you cough or make a mistake, do not write down the number. Do it over again.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 two more times.
8.Write down the highest of the three numbers in an asthma diary.
9.  Check to see which peak flow zone your peak flow number is in.
10. Follow the instructions on your action plan for each zone.

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