Reviewed by Dr. Frank Twarog

WHY YOU?? None of the other kids you know suddenly start coughing and wheezing and sneezing and feeling short of breath. Most of your friends go out for all kind of sports without having to worry that out of nowhere, something will happen that will make them have to stop practicing or leave in the middle of the game. That something is an asthma attack. As if that weren't enough, your Mom is always on your case. She makes sure you remember to take your asthma medicine and put your inhaler in your backpack in case you start feeling a tightness in your chest or short of breath.

It's not fair!! Why do YOU have to be the sicko? Nobody has totally figured that one out yet, but you are not alone. Over four million children and teenagers have asthma, so you're really not so DIFFERENT after all!! Look around closely and chances are you'll see a lot more kids than you thought with inhalers, spacers or even peak flow meters.* (see definitions)

If you think about it, having asthma is like being dealt a certain hand in a card game. You can't choose what cards the dealer deals you but you do have control over how you play those cards. If you play your cards right, you can do a lot to prevent asthma attacks.

Here's how:
Be sure to take whatever medication you're supposed to; exactly the way the doctor says. Don't skip days or stop using the medicine just because you're feeling good for a few weeks.

Try to stay away from things that start your asthma up, like:

1. Cats, dogs and other animals you might be allergic to. Also avoid eating certain foods which seem to bring on attacks.
2. Getting upset and stressful
3. Heavy exercising without first using your medications
4. Get regular checkups from your doctor
5. Don't smoke or hang out around anyone who smokes