If you have asthma, then the experts recommend that you also have a personal asthma management plan or action plan. This is a written document that you can you write with the help of your doctor to lay out the groundwork on how to most manage your condition through a series of strategic steps, including monitoring your status, using medication as needed and taking control of your environment to keep your symptoms in check.


Create Your Personal Action Plan


Whether you suffer from mild asthma or experience more serious symptoms when your condition flares up, you can help to prevent and manage your symptoms by creating an effective plan that will guide you on how to respond under a host of different circumstances. Your plan should include such elements as:

  • how to stay on top of how your breathing is on a daily basis
  • how to know when you are heading into your “danger” zone
  • how and when to administer both your long-term control medications and quick-acting relief medicines
  • how to minimize exposure to your triggers in your home and work or school settings
  • when to seek medical help when all else fails

Monitor Your Condition


Monitoring your condition regularly using a peak flow monitor is typically an important part of an asthma management plan. Your physician should guide you on how to use this simple tool to measure your lung function and ensure it is up to your full potential. He or she can help you to determine what your “personal best” should be on this home monitor and how to use your daily readings to tell when your function is starting to deteriorate. When your capacity starts to slip into your danger zone, your plan should give you some concrete steps that you can take to head off an asthma attack.

Plan Your Medication


Your asthma management plan should also offer a written guide on exactly what types of medications you take and how to take them correctly, so you won’t have any confusion on what you are supposed to do and when. Most people with asthma have three types of medications:

  • The first type of medication is what you take on a regular basis in order to prevent or control your asthma symptoms. This can include various types of allergy medication and long-acting steroid inhalers.


  • The second category of medication can encompass a short-term course of treatment that you take when your lung function starts to deteriorate. This can typically include oral steroids.


  • The third category of medication includes your quick-relief inhaler, which you use when you experience symptoms and need help right away.

Safeguard your Environment


You will also want to have some written information about what substances and circumstances seem to trigger your asthma symptoms and how best to avoid them. This can help you take control of your home, work and/or school environment in order to set a safe and healthy place where your lung function will be up to its full potential and you can feel your best. This section of your plan may include specifics such as the fact that freshly-cut grass sets off your symptoms or that you need to wash your sheets in hot water and keep your mattress in a special plastic cover in over to prevent dust mites from taking up residence in your bed.


Other Plan Components


Finally, many asthma management plans also include some guidelines on how and when to communicate with your doctor in order to stay on top of changes in your condition and to head off potential problems. In addition, your plan will include important emergency information so you will know exactly what to do if your condition suddenly worsens.


For more information about creating your personal asthma action guide or management plan, talk to your doctor .You can also find a sample form to guide you on creating your personalized plan on the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s website at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_actplan.htm.