Managing Acute Asthma Symptoms
Use your peak flow meter to monitor your asthma and follow these   suggestions:
Follow your medicine plan.
Follow your Green Zone plan every day to keep most asthma symptoms from starting.
Recognize your symptoms of an asthma episode. Act quickly to stop them.
Follow the Yellow Zone plan to stop asthma symptoms and to keep an asthma episode from getting serious.
Follow the Red Zone plan to take care of a serious episode. This is an emergency plan!
Whenever possible, stay away from things that bring on your asthma symptoms. Follow your        asthma trigger control plan to reduce the number of things in your home, workplace, or classroom that bother your asthma.
See your doctor regularly. Talk about this plan with your doctor when you visit him/her.
Warning Signs of Asthma Episodes
Asthma episodes rarely occur without seaming. Most people with asthma have   warming signs (physical changes) that occur hours before symptoms appear. Warning   signs are not the same for everyone. You may have different signs at   different times. By knowing your warming signs and acting on them, you may be   able to avoid a serious episode of asthma.
Think back on your last asthma episode. Did you have any of the signs below?
Check your warning signs). Show them to your doctor and family.
Remember to follow your asthma control plan as soon as these signs appear.
Check here
_______ Drop in peak flow reading

   _______ Chronic cough, especially at night

   _______ Difficulty breathing

   _______ Chest starts to get tight or hurts

   _______ Breathing faster than normal

   _______ Getting out of breath easily

   _______ Tired, itchy, watery, or glassy eyes

   _______ Itchy, scratchy, or sore throat

   _______ Stroking chin or throat

   _______ Sneezing, Head stopped up

   _______ Headache, Fever

   _______ Restless

   _______ Runny nose

   _______ Change in face color

   _______ Dark circles under eyes
Summary of Steps To Manage Asthma Episodes
  1. Know your warning signs and peak flow   zones so you can begin treatment early.
   2. Take the correct amount of medicine at the   times the doctor has stated. If the asthma control         plan includes increased   dosage or a second medicine to be used during episodes, take it            as   prescribed. Always call your doctor if you need to take more medicine than   the doctor               ordered.
   3. Remove yourself or the child from the trigger   if you know what it is. Treatment does not work          as well if the patient stays   around the trigger.
   4. Keep calm and relaxed. Family members must   stay calm and relaxed too.
   5. Rest
   6. Observe yourself or the child by noting   changes in body signs such as wheezing, coughing,          trouble breathing, and   posture. If you have a peak flow meter, measure peak flow number 5           to 10   minutes after each treatment to see if peak flow is improving.
   7. Review the list below for signs to seek emergency   medical care for asthma. They include:
Your wheeze, cough, or shortness of breath gets worse, even after the medicine has been given       and had time to work. Most inhaled bronchodilators medicines produce an effect within 5 to 10 minutes. Discuss the time your medicines take to work with your doctor.
Your peak flow number goes down, or does not improved after treatment with bronchodilators, or drops to 50 percent or less of personal best. Discuss this peak flow level with your doctor.
Your breathing gets difficult. Signs of this are: a) Your chest and neck are pulled or sucked in with each breath. b) You are hunching over. c) You are struggling to breathe.
You have trouble walking or talking.
You stop playing or working and cannot start again.
Your lips or fingernails are gray or blue. If this happens, go to the Emergency Room  Now!
  8. Keep your important information for seeking emergency care handy.
   9. Call a family member, friend, or neighbor to help you if needed.
   10. Immediately call a clinic, doctor's office, or hospital for help if   needed.
Do Not Do the Following:
Do not drink a lot of  water. Just drink normal amounts.
Do not breathe warm moist air from a shower.
Do not rebreathe into a paper bag held over the nose.
Do not use over-the-counter cold remedies without first calling the   doctor.
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