If you have allergic asthma, it’s important to have a written asthma action plan to manage your condition, treat an asthma episode, and recognize when to get emergency medical care.

The steps of an action plan help you and the people you might rely on—such as roommates, family, or coworkers—by defining the symptoms you need to watch for and determining what to do if these symptoms arise, including which medications to take, how much, and how often.

Step 1: Consult With Your Healthcare Provider

Talk to your healthcare provider to develop your allergic asthma action plan and understand it thoroughly. It’s crucial to have a healthcare provider who will follow your condition and adjust your treatment plan as needed. This provider can be a primary care provider, an allergist (treats allergies and other conditions of the immune system), or a pulmonary specialist (treats conditions of the lungs and respiratory system).

You action plan outlines the following:

• What medications to take for maintenance
• Medications and steps to take for an asthma episode or flare-up
• What severe symptoms require emergency care and steps and medications to take

You can use an asthma action plan form available from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to develop your plan with your healthcare provider. Forms are available for the person with asthma and for sharing with school, childcare providers, and other caregivers.

Step 2: Track Symptoms

Allergic asthma is a type of asthma in which certain environmental triggers, such as dust mites, mold, and pollen or other airborne particles, bring on symptoms. It’s important to track your triggers and symptoms and discuss the patterns with your healthcare provider. Try to notice what locations, situations, or activities trigger your symptoms.

Maintenance therapy can help prevent asthma symptoms. But you might occasionally or frequently. have flare-ups, which are episodes of chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

With allergic asthma, you can experience mild or moderate symptoms that respond to your at-home treatment. But allergic asthma can also cause distressing or even dangerous symptoms.

Step 3: Use a Green-Yellow-Red Management Plan for Treatment

Asthma action plans are often based on a green-yellow-red management plan. Green means your symptoms are completely controlled, yellow means you have some symptoms, and red means you need emergency care.

For each zone, common symptoms and signs are listed. The medications to take, how much, and how often are noted.

When you are in each zone, do the following:

• Green: Take your regular maintenance medication as directed, even if you feel fine. When you are in the green zone, it’s important to try to avoid your allergic asthma triggers.
• Yellow: Use your asthma treatment as directed to help reduce your ongoing symptoms. Take it easy, slow down, and get some rest. Pay attention to your symptoms to ensure that they are under control. If you notice no improvement or start feeling worse, you could be heading towards the red zone.
• Red: Get prompt medical attention. In the meantime, use the treatment you and your healthcare provider discussed for this zone. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about what each of your symptoms means. For example, you might experience some shortness of breath or chest tightness while you’re still in the yellow zone, but if you’re breathing rapidly or if your discomfort lasts longer than a few minutes, you could be in the red zone.

4. Share Your Plan

Once your allergy action plan is developed, give copies to others in your household. You may want to post it in a common area, such as on the side of a refrigerator. Go over it with your household members so they understand how to use it and where your medications are stored.

For a child, share the plan with their school, after-school activity and sports programs, and childcare providers.

5. Treating an Asthma Episode

When you feel symptoms, consult your allergy action plan. Determine whether your symptoms match the yellow zone or the red zone. Follow the treatment listed on the plan for that zone.

Steps of care when you have allergic asthma symptoms include:

• If you are doing strenuous activity, stop what you’re doing.
• Sit up if you’re lying down.
• Sit down if you’re standing.
• Try to stay calm.
• Use your rescue medication as directed in the plan.
• Call your healthcare provider as indicated on the plan.
• Call for emergency medical help if you are not improving quickly or are having severe red zone symptoms.

It’s important to plan for possible flare-ups. Have a designated spot to keep your treatment at home, and make sure that roommates or family members who live with you know where you keep your medication.

Be sure you have your treatment handy in a bag you can carry whenever you leave the house. Ensure your medicine is up-to-date (not expired), and refill it before it runs out.

If you are traveling, take your maintenance and rescue medications with you. Traveling can trigger allergic asthma symptoms by exposing you to a different environment, chemicals, food, or air quality.

Making Time for Self-Care

If you or a loved one has allergic asthma, self-care can help improve your overall health. Getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and managing stress can all help reduce the inflammation that worsens allergic asthma symptoms. 

Additionally, you may need to slow down and pay attention to your triggers so you can begin to notice trends and patterns that cause your symptoms. 

What to Ask a Provider 

Some things to ask your provider as you develop and use your allergic asthma action plan include:

• What kinds of symptoms are dangerous or life-threatening? 
• Which symptoms are treatable? 
• Are there certain warning signs before serious symptoms begin? 
• What is the best treatment for me to use when I feel symptoms coming on? 
• What is the best treatment for me to use when I’m having symptoms? 
• Should I start using my asthma treatment while I’m waiting for emergency treatment? 

Summary 

Your allergic asthma action plan is a printed document instructing you and others on what to do when you have asthma symptoms. An asthma action plan includes a safe and effective routine for daily maintenance treatment and a plan for what to do in an allergic asthma emergency.