According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, close to 5 million children across the country had pediatric asthma in 2021. While asthma levels are trending downward, it’s no consolation when your child is affected.
Asthma specialist Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD is your asthma management partner in Fountain Valley, California. Your child’s best life emerges from an asthma action plan that effectively controls asthma attacks and symptoms.
A key feature of an asthma action plan is the zone system, a three-level guide that helps you work through asthma symptoms appropriately. Using traffic light colors — green, yellow, and red — asthma zones guide you through your child’s asthma levels.
Today, we’ll take a look at the three zones of an asthma action plan so that you can stay on top of your child’s asthma management.
Asthma zones use peak flow meter results, asthma symptoms, or both to assess the current status of an asthma patient. The zone your child is in after an assessment guides the actions needed, if any.
The three asthma zones are:
Let’s take a closer look at each of the three zones.
This is the desired zone for every asthma patient. Your child displays no symptoms and can sleep without breathing difficulties. They can play as they normally do, and attending school is no problem.
Peak flow readings when in the green zone will be 80% to 100% of their personal best flow level. Continue with their regular daily medications. There’s no need to make changes to their treatment or routine when in the green zone.
The yellow zone means that lung function is impaired. There may or may not be other symptoms present, but peak flow will be between 50% and 80% of your child’s personal best rate.
If symptoms are present, these usually include:
You can discuss with Dr. Tandon the changes to medication needed when your child hits the yellow zone.
This is the zone that no parent wants their asthmatic child to visit. Peak flow is below 50%. Breathing is very difficult. Wheezing is common, but wheezing can also stop when airflow through the bronchial tubes becomes very low. Quick-relief inhalers may have little effect and daily activities are seriously affected.
The red zone is the time to turn to your child’s asthma action plan and follow its directives to the letter. Use the medications listed for the red zone, in the amounts or quantities listed.
Contact our office as soon as possible, or outside of office hours, contact 911 or visit an emergency room when you’ve followed the action plan but there’s little improvement.
Knowing what to do and when is important for the parents of children prone to severe asthma attacks. Develop and update your child’s asthma action plan with us at Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD. Call or click if you need to book an appointment today.
