A COPD action plan for self-management is designed to help you to manage and understand your condition. It should be established and completed with the help of your doctor or other health care providers. It should support you to find ways that suit you to manage your symptoms, help you to feel better, and to take control of your well-being.
What is an Action Plan?
Your Action Plan is a written contract between you and your health care team. It will tell you how to manage your COPD flare-ups. It will help you and your caregivers to quickly recognize and act to treat your flare-ups. This will keep your lungs and you as healthy as possible.
To sum up, it is a list of symptoms, divided in 3 categories sorted by level of severity, and the actions you should take to treat or avoid them.
What are the 3 zones?
An Action Plan is divided in 3 zones:
- Green day: Everything is normal, you are having a good day.
- Yellow day: You are not having a good day or a COPD flare-up.
- Red day: You have a bad day.
Please contact your doctor or health care provider to complete an Action Plan together.
Find below, an example of an Action Plan.
