Late Onset Exercise Induced Asthma

About 3 weeks ago after my swim meet, I got home and thought I was having a heart attack. My chest was tight and I couldn't breathe. It finally stopped but I was sore the next day. Then the next time I swam it happened again, only not as severly this time. So I did a little research and I think it might be exercise induced asthma. I bought an over counter inhailer (sp) and it seems to be helping. The only thing is that I never had problems with asthma as a kid or anytime, this is entirely new. Has anybody else had problems with this? I'm gonna go the doc when I get back from school, but does anyone have ways to deal with it? Thanks!!!