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Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma

Table of Contents


Overview

Even though asthma is a lifelong condition, treatment can help you feel and breathe better and help keep your lungs healthy.

If you have been recently diagnosed with asthma, it may seem like there are a lot of things to remember. But with some practice, these things will become part of your normal routine. Some ways you can take charge of your asthma include using an asthma action plan, knowing the asthma zones, and working with your doctor.


How to take charge of your asthma

Use an asthma action plan

Using an asthma action plan can help you stay active and have fewer asthma problems. Following your plan is a big step toward controlling your asthma so you can live the life you want.

Know the asthma zones

Asthma zones are part of your asthma action plan. The zones are defined by your symptoms, your peak flow, or both. Knowing what zone you're in can help you know how well your asthma is under control and if you need help.

The three zones are:

Green zone.

Green means good. This zone is where you want to be.

When you're in the green zone, one or more of these things may be true:

  • You don't have any symptoms.
  • You're able to do your usual activities and can sleep without having symptoms.
  • Your peak flow (if you check it) is 80% to 100% of your personal best measurement.
Yellow zone.

Yellow means caution. If you're in this zone, it may mean you're having an asthma attack or that your medicine needs to be increased.

When you're in the yellow zone, one or more of these things may be true:

  • You may not have any symptoms, but your lung function is reduced.
  • When symptoms are present, you may cough, wheeze, or feel short of breath, or your chest may feel tight. Or your asthma may limit your activities or wake you up at night.
  • Your peak flow (if you check it) is 50% to less than 80% of your personal best measurement.
Red zone.

Red means DANGER. If you're in this zone, you may be having a severe asthma attack. Being in the red zone is dangerous. If you're in the red zone, you need to take action right away.

When you're in the red zone, one or more of these things may be true:

  • You may be very short of breath.
  • You can't do your usual activities.
  • You use your chest muscles to breathe. The skin between, above, and under the ribs collapses inward with each breath (retractions).
  • You wheeze. But if your symptoms are very severe, you may not hear any wheezing. Wheezing will stop when the amount of air moving through the bronchial tubes becomes dangerously low. In this case, no wheezing is actually worse than hearing wheezing.
  • Your quick-relief medicine doesn't help.
  • Your peak flow (if you check it) is less than 50% of your personal best measurement.

Work with your doctor

Here are some ways to partner with your doctor to keep your asthma under control.


Credits for Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma

Current as of: August 6, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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