Hugs. So long as you take asthma seriously it is manageable.
Note for all the following - I am NOT a doctor, nurse, or other professional, just a fellow asthmatic. Trust your doctor's advice over anything I'm about to say!
I have a peak flow meter at home that tells you how much volume of breath you can blow out in 1 second (that 220 figure you had, known also as FEV1). The asthma nurse gave me a handy list to go with it, so (made up figures follow) over 450 all is good. Below 350 start taking this medication, below 250 start taking this other medication as well, below 150 call an ambulance. I would suggest seeing if you can get such a guideline from your doctor, and then testing your peak flow every day for a few weeks so you know how the numbers relate and you can see where you are at. I don't use mine at all now, unless I feel really crap and like to see what the figure is, so it's not like you are tied to doing this forever :)
The various types of inhalers do different things. The main ones are bronchodilators, or relievers, or blue ones to UK people, or salbutamol/albuterol (UK versus US name). These act to open up your airways. They're what you take for immediate relief. If you get given one, don't ever go anywhere without it. One of the main pains of being an asthmatic is having to carry this blasted thing everywhere just in case.
Then there are inhaled steroids, like beclomethasone, that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the lungs. As they're inhaled it's not the same as taking steroid pills - the inhalers only affect the lungs. These are ones that you take regularly (every day/twice a day/etc) to keep your lungs in a healthier state. These will not relieve an acute attack, but they help prevent you having attacks.
These days many people get given an inhaler that combines both a long-acting version of the bronchodilators (eg salmeterol) plus a steroid. Seretide is an example of this type of combination. I'm old school and got my medication all set up for me before these were introduced, so I've not tried these :)
If your asthma has really kicked off, you may get given steroid tablets (prednisolone, like you have now) that works on the whole body as a short-term thing to get things under control.
For cold weather, make sure to cover your mouth with a scarf when you go out - cold air can really set asthma off. I used to react really badly to things with sulfates in (Ribena for example), but I seem to have stopped doing that. Cat allergy can set asthma off, and I have tested positive for cat allergy, but if I visit somewhere with a cat, hayfever tablets prevent my asthma kicking off. I would avoid brushing the cats or being near when someone brushes them. Don't go on a massive dusting or vacuuming spree either - face masks are fab for when you need to do dusty housework but don't want to be asthmaticing all over the place :)
Oil seed rape is the plant of the devil - avoid like the plague! Damp is also a right sod. My asthma was terrible when I lived out in the lovely clean air of the (damp) countryside, but has practically gone now I've moved to the polluted but not damp city. Lungs are weird! It goes without saying that if you smoke or are around people that smoke, quit that now.
Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal antiinflamtories (NSAIDs) like naproxen are probably a no-no now. However topical versions, like voltarol might be fine as they act locally just where you apply them (I swear I'm their best customer!). Check with your doctor.
Best wishes and welcome to the dodgy-lung club :)