Tightening of chest, breathlessness, coughing, and wheezing are some of the common symptoms of an asthma attack. Many asthma patients feel that winds have been blown out of their pipes after an attack. Asthma is a condition of reversible airway obstruction, and in severe cases, it can even prove fatal.

Cold air, exercises, pollutants, and certain chemicals are the major reasons for an asthma attack. Doctors generally prescribe quick relief medication to instantly help the patient having a bout of asthma, and a long-term medication will be suggested to avoid its occurrence.

– Know more about asthma action plan – It is rightly said “prevention is better than cure.” To equip yourself better against this life-threatening asthma, it is better you get an Asthma Action Plan from your doctor. This plan can actually be used to prevent and manage your asthma attacks or even take care of the asthmatic problem faced by any of your family members, including small children.

In a nutshell, this action plan is your best guide to taking proactive measures when any of your loved ones experiences change in the asthma symptoms or some kind of asthma emergency.

– Devising an asthma action plan – Your asthma action plan can be devised in numerous ways, some of which have been mentioned below:

o A detailed list of triggers causing asthmatic symptoms and the best way to avoid them.

o This plan also includes peak flow meter reading calculated on the basis of an individual’s personal best reading.

o Going ahead, you will also be provided with a complete list of most commonly observed asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, tight chest, and excessive mucus production. This plan also contains a self-help guide, which will suggest you the best course of action that needs to be taken when these symptoms are seen.

o This book will also contain the name of the asthma medication and the prescribed doses that need to be taken regularly by the asthma patient even when the symptoms are not seen.

o The names and doses of quick relief medicine that need to be taken during emergency are also provided in this book.

o Reliever medication, which has to be taken at the time of asthma attack, is also mentioned in the plan along with the name and doses of medicine.

o The asthma action plan further contains emergency telephone numbers, names of the doctors to be consulted, and names of emergency center for treatment.

– Different Zones in Asthma Action Plan – For the user to understand, this plan is divided into three different zones based on the peak flow meter. The green, yellow, and red zone in the action plan will contain instructions from the doctors on handling the situation:

o Green zone is the safest zone, where you will not experience any asthma symptoms. You can enjoy a normal life as long as you are in this zone and will be able to carry on daily activities without wheezing, coughing, or having breathing difficulty.

o Yellow zone is the caution zone and lists down places that can be bad for asthma. In this zone, the patient experiences asthma attacks mostly at night, and even their daily routine may be disturbed due to coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing. The doctor may advise you to shift to a green zone to avoid the chances of asthma attack.

o Red zone, as the name suggests, signifies danger and the patient needs immediate medical care. In this zone, the patient will have trouble talking, breathing, walking, cough, and wheezing. When a patient is in this zone, you can see him gasping for breath and experience bluish nails or lips.

So prepare this action plan to help manage asthma better.

Author Bio: Mr.Infarto – senior writer on Benesserevillage.it

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: asthma