Advair or Albuterol? I'm new to asthma,I have tightness in the chest?

I have never taken the advair but I have it, I take qvar daily.I had read the disclosure for advair and it sounded so extreme! I was scared to take it.Usually I take albuterol when I am sick which I have a cold right now, before i went to an allergist who gave me the advair,Is advair treatment or preventative or both? Which one should i take? This is all so confusing, I need to go see the allergist again,ok thanks