Asthma is a chronic disease that warrants on-going professional medical supervision. Asthma is a leading cause of visits to the emergency room and very severe cases can result in death. In other words, please consult with your MD!
The biggest thing to do is to figure out what your triggers are. Asthma episosdes are often linked to allergies, cold air, viral infection, and exercise. While smoking will it make it worse, most asthma is not caused by smoking per se.
So, I would start trying to identify an common denominators. Where you just exercising? Breathing cold air? Fighting off a cold? Been in a dusty place? Eaten a certain food?
Ideally, your doctor will:
a) Clearly diagnose this as asthma (the needles thing sound different that what I experience);
b) Establish some sort of baseline control plan so that your episodes are less frequent (and ideally less sever when they happen). This is most often done with pills or inhalers that are NOT fast acting;
c) Help you discover your triggers. If they are allregies, ideally suggest ways you can limit exposure to allergens or your reaction to them -- but after first identifying specific allergens (i.e., encasing pillows in a special liner if you have dust allergies, allergy shots, special nasal sprays, etc.)
d) Provide you with a rescue inhaler (which it sounds like you have now).
What can you do? Start think about what your triggers might be and see your doctor!