Also, try breathing in little breaths - don't try to take big breaths and only through your nose. The warmer air that results may help.

You may need to sleep sitting up for a bit, try propping pillows behind you, or fold a pillow across your stomach and lean on it.

Inhale a breath, then hold it, count to five before you exhale. The next breath, hold for a ten count before you exhale. Slowing your breathing will help relax the muscles that right now are all tense and spasming.


I was an asthmatic child, and the medicines back then were not as good as we have now. I haven't had one of these attacks since I was probably 15 or so, but I can remember how awful they are.