Another lifelong asthmatic here. I've taken daily maintenance and rescue meds for 45+ years, and can't count the ER trips anymore, and almost became a statistic when the docs found out in the 80s you can't mix a couple of 'back then' popular treatments....
Getting to this party a bit late. Lots of good info.
I'll add....
SymbiCort works much better for me than any of the other maintenance inhalers (Advair, or any other inhaled propellant based corticosteroids). I've tried them all over the years.
I've also asked my PCP (she is very well versed in asthma, and we've gotten it well under control, so I'm no longer using a pulmonologist) for the non propellant based versions of albuterol and budesonide (pulmicort). These are the ones in vials used via a nebulizer system. They work so much better. I've invested in a portable Pari Trek S system (you can get them all day long for $80 on eBay, no insurance or prescription required). It comes with AC based power and DC (for your car) based power. I've decided on the Pari pump and nebulizer systems....cause I've had almost every other brand....and Pari lasts the longest, and their nebulizers take the shortest amount of time to deliver the dose.
So....long story short, I only do 1-2 SymbiCort doses a day, and 98% of the time I never have to do anything else. When things get a bit tough (cold/flu season, or actually come down with any throat/bronchial issue), I switch to the nebulizer versions. While the nebulizer systems take 4-5 minutes to get the dose, they are so much better in the long term results.
If I get into a rescue situation (exercising, but only happens when I really get out of my comfort zone, and I'm not near the car) , it's Ventolin. If I'm anywhere near the Pari S (and can wait), I always use Albuterol instead.
FWIW, IOW, and YMMV, I've dealt with it so long....I really think I've gotten a feel for when things will get out of hand with my asthma, and slow down to think and react with a treatment accordingly for the situation. I can tell (without being measured) whether my oxygen level is at 98-99% (good), or at a 92-94 (flu/bronchitis/pneumonia) or at a 95-97 (EIA, etc.).
In the cold....it also helps to drink coffee and/or hot tea, and suck on hard candy (or some form of throat lozenges).
HTH.