Your COPD Action Plan

Read the signs. Your COPD has a traffic light.

This is your COPD action plan. It tells you exactly when to act.

Here's the simple idea. Think of a traffic light, with three zones. Green means you're doing well. Yellow means your symptoms are climbing, so it's time to act. And red means it's an emergency. Each zone tells you exactly what to do, so you never have to guess. Let's walk through all three, together.

First, the green zone. This is doing well. It's how you feel on a good day.

In the green zone, your breathing is normal for you. Your job here is to keep going. Take your daily medicines, just as your doctor prescribed. Keep up your breathing exercises. Stay active, within your own limits. And steer clear of things that irritate your lungs, like smoke, dust, and strong fumes. Good days are built on these small habits.

Next, the yellow zone. This means take action. Catch it early, before it gets worse.

You're in the yellow zone when your symptoms start to climb above your normal. Watch for these. You feel more breathless than usual. You're coughing or wheezing more. You have more mucus, or its color changes. Or you find yourself reaching for your rescue inhaler more often. Any one of these is a yellow-zone warning. It's your body telling you a flare-up may be starting.

So in the yellow zone, here's what to do. One, use your rescue inhaler. Two, start any medicines listed on your plan. Three, call your doctor today.

Now the most important zone. The red zone means call 911. Call right away if you are severely breathless even at rest. If you can't speak in full sentences. If your lips or nails turn blue or gray. Or if you feel confused or very drowsy. Don't wait — get help now.

Here's the key. Make this plan your own, with your doctor. Write down your own medicines and doses, for each zone, so the plan fits you. Then keep copies where you'll find them fast. Put one on the fridge. Tuck one in your wallet. And share one with your family, so they can help if you need it.

So, can you picture your three zones? Green, keep going. Yellow, take action. Red, call 911. Acting quickly can keep you out of the hospital.

Up next — one mistake makes home oxygen dangerous. Watch next.