An asthma action plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you develop with your doctor to help control your asthma. The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them.
What goes in an asthma action plan?
Your asthma action plan should include:
- Factors that make your asthma worse, "asthma triggers"
- Medicines you take to treat your asthma with specific names of each medicine
- Symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) that indicate worsening asthma
- Medicines to take based on your signs, symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used)
How to use your asthma action plan?
To help your patient use their plan effectively, they could:
- Keep a copy of their updated plan on their phone, tablet or laptop. ...
- Encourage your patient to keep a hard copy on their fridge or somewhere obvious, so it reminds them what they need to do to stay on top of their asthma.
- Suggest your patient shares their asthma action plan with friends, family and colleagues. ...
What is the goal of your asthma treatment plan?
- Have asthma symptoms on 2 days a week or less.
- Use your quick-relief inhaler on 2 days a week or less.
- Have no asthma symptoms at night and do not wake up because of asthma symptoms.
- Can exercise, work, and go to school with no limitations on your activity level.
- Have a peak flow that is near your personal best (or better).
What are treatment goals of asthma?
- When asthma is either uncontrolled or only partly controlled, treatment should be stepped up until good control is achieved.
- When asthma has been well controlled for at least 3 months, treatment can be stepped down. ...
- The goal is maintenance of good asthma control with the least possible number of drugs at the lowest possible dosage.
Why is asthma action plan important?
The goal of an asthma action plan is to reduce or prevent flare-ups and emergency department visits. Following a written asthma action plan can help your child do normal everyday activities without having asthma symptoms.
What is an asthma action plan?
An Asthma Action Plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you develop with your doctor to help control your asthma." The Asthma Action Plan (AAP) lists all medications with instructions on when they should be taken.
What is the recommended treatment plan for asthma?
Quick-relief inhalers (bronchodilators) quickly open swollen airways that are limiting breathing. In some cases, allergy medications are necessary. Long-term asthma control medications, generally taken daily, are the cornerstone of asthma treatment.
What are the four steps in the asthma action plan?
First aid stepsStep 1: Sit the person upright.Step 2: Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey reliever puffer.Step 3: Wait 4 minutes.Step 4: If breathing does not return to normal, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
Who needs an asthma action plan?
Everyone with asthma needs his or her own Asthma Action Plan. Work with your health care provider to create a plan that works for you. Your goal is to prevent and control your asthma attacks.
Why it is necessary to have an asthma management action plan in the education and care service?
An asthma action plan helps the person with asthma and/or their carer recognise worsening asthma and gives clear instructions on what to do in response.
Do asthma action plans work?
The authors concluded that “the written asthma action plan did not reduce unscheduled doctor visits nor improve asthma control or quality of life.”
What is the purpose of an asthma action plan and a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter measures how fast air comes out of your lungs when you exhale forcefully. Readings from the meter can help you or your child recognize early signs of worsening asthma. Keeping track of peak flow numbers is part of your Asthma Action Plan.
Where should an asthma action plan be kept?
This should be stored in their asthma kit with a copy of their Asthma Action Plan and their spacer.
What is an asthma action plan?
An asthma action plan is a list of written step-by-step instructions for how to best take care of your asthma. It includes what to do when you have symptoms and when to call your doctor or get emergency help. The plan helps you to manage your symptoms when they start and prevent them from getting worse or turning into a full-blown attack.
What do the zones in the action plan mean?
There are 3 zones in an action plan: green, yellow, and red. The action plan will spell out exactly what to do in each zone, including what medication to take and when.
What do I do with the plan?
An action plan can help you avoid flare-ups and going to the emergency department, so you should keep it handy at all times. Keep at least one at home, at work, and anywhere else you spend a lot of time. If your child has asthma, an action plan should be shared with your child’s school, babysitters, after-school programs, or other caregivers.
Is asthma scary for kids?
If you have asthma, or have a child with asthma, you know that asthma attacks can be frightening. You also know that when your (or your child’s) symptoms are quickly getting worse, you don’t want to be confused about what to do next. That’s why it’s so important to have an asthma action plan.
Are asthma action plans effective?
Clinical guidelines recommend having an action plan in place, although the evidence is conflicting. Some studies question how effective the plans are, especially in children, whereas not sticking to an action plan has been identified as a potential risk factor for asthma-related death. The key is education — understanding the disease, the medications, the signs and symptoms, and how to treat them.
What is asthma action plan?
An Asthma Action Plan is a written, individualized worksheet that shows you the steps to take to keep your asthma from getting worse. It also provides guidance on when to call your healthcare provider or when to go to the emergency room. An asthma action plan is an important tool to share with caregivers of children with asthma, ...
What to do in an emergency asthma plan?
This portion of your plan should include: emergency telephone numbers for the doctor, emergency department, rapid transportation and family/friends for support.
How do long term asthma medications work?
Long-term control medicines (also called controller, maintenance or anti-inflammatory medicines) help prevent asthma symptoms by controlling the swelling in your lungs and decreasing mucus production. These medicines work slowly but help control your asthma for hours.
How to know if asthma is getting worse?
Your peak flow rate can show if your asthma is getting worse, even before you feel symptoms. Your peak flow rate is measured with a peak flow meter. To use your peak flow rate to determine the zones on your asthma action plan, you first need to spend some time determining your personal best.
What makes asthma worse?
Factors that make your asthma worse, "asthma triggers". Medicines you take to treat your asthma with specific names of each medicine. Symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) that indicate worsening asthma. Medicines to take based on your signs, symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) Symptoms or peak flow measurements (if used) ...
What are the three zones of asthma?
Asthma Zones. An asthma action plan is divided into three zones (green, yellow and red). The green zone is where you want to be on a daily basis. In this zone, you have no asthma symptoms and you feel good. Continue to take your long-term control medicine (s) even if you're feeling well. The yellow zone means that you are experiencing symptoms.
What does the yellow zone mean in asthma?
Continue to take your long-term control medicine (s) even if you're feeling well. The yellow zone means that you are experiencing symptoms. This is where you should slow down and follow the steps including the use of your quick-relief medicine to keep your asthma from getting worse.
What is asthma action plan?
An asthma action plan (or management plan) is a written plan that you create with your child's doctor to help control your child's asthma. The goal of an asthma action plan is to reduce or prevent flare-ups and emergency department visits.
What should each asthma plan cover?
However, each plan should cover: what medicines to take and when (for students, this can include permission to take medicine at school) a list of possible triggers.
What is the yellow zone in asthma?
The yellow zone, or caution zone , explains how to look for signs that asthma is getting worse. It also explains which medicines to add to bring your child's asthma back under control. The red zone, or danger zone, explains what to do when a flare-up is severe. Following the advice in the asthma action plan will help prevent flare-ups.
How Do I Read the Plan?
Many action plans use a color-coded system to help parents understand how to care for their child's asthma. The "zone system," which is commonly used, is based on the red, yellow, and green colors of a traffic light. Action plans use symptoms, peak flow readings, or both to help you see what "zone" your child is in:
Asthma Action Plan
Everyone with asthma should have an Asthma Action Plan in writing. This plan provides information and instructions on how you can manage your asthma. It includes:
Asthma Action Plan for Child Care
It is important for childcare providers to know how to manage your child's asthma. Here is a sample Asthma Action Plan you can use for a child in preschool, day care, etc.:
Asthma Action Plan for Students
Asthma Action Plans also tell school and other caregivers about your child’s asthma. This could include teachers, school nurses, and after school care staff. Work with your health care provider to create a plan for your child. Here is a sample Asthma Action Plan you can use for students in school:
How to get asthma action plan?
If you’re not using an asthma action plan yet, it’s easy to get started: 1 Download an asthma action plan here. If you can, print out a copy to take to your GP or asthma nurse. 2 Book an asthma appointment with your GP or asthma nurse. 3 At the appointment, talk through the plan with your GP or asthma nurse and fill it in together. You can do this by telephone or video call too if your appointment isn’t in the surgery. Ask them to save a copy onto your notes and send it to you on email, SMS or WhatsApp.
How to save asthma medication?
Stick it on the fridge, keep it with your medicines, or ask your GP or asthma nurse for a digital copy, so you can save it on your phone. That way it’s always easy to find when you need it.
What to do if your asthma is getting worse?
what to do if your asthma symptoms are getting worse. the emergency action to take if you’re having an asthma attack and when to call 999. You fill it in with your GP or asthma nurse, so it’s personal to you and your asthma.
Why is your support important for asthma?
Your support helps us to give people with asthma the knowledge they need to live well and protect themselves from asthma attacks.
Is asthma research underfunded?
Asthma research is severely underfunded. DID YOU KNOW: Research into respiratory diseases like asthma accounts for just 2% of all the medical research funding in the UK. This underfunding is exactly why we launched the 2021 Research Appeal. Donate today, to show you care about asthma research. Donate.
