An Asthma Action Plan is a written plan that is individualized for a patient to help manage asthma episodes. It is based on the patient's peak flow readings and symptoms and gives explicit instructions. It includes the patient's medications and tells him which medications to take and how to take them; depending on which "zone" he is in. The "zone" depends on the symptoms and peak flow readings. The written plan is made by the patient's physician, provider or an asthma educator working under a physician's guidance. The provider must have assessed the patient's asthma completely before writing the plan. The provider will consider the severity of the disease, the patient's symptoms and lung function, as well as social circumstances such as age, activities, triggers and ability to follow directions. Once the action plan is written, it becomes a tool for the patient to manage his own condition. Self-management is an important goal for any asthma patient because asthma is a chronic condition. An action plan should include the following: Asthma Symptoms: The plan is based partly on the severity of symptoms and is designed to include early warning signs and how to intervene early to prevent an attack. Peak Flow Readings: A decrease in peak flow means asthma is getting out of control. The readings can help the patient decide which zone they are in, and thus which instructions to follow. Medications: The correct medication, the frequency of the medication and the correct dose are listed in the correct zone in the plan. Click here to see and download an example of a self-monitoring action plan. You will see that it is based on three zones, depicted by the green light, yellow light, and red light concept. | 
