I have asthma caused by stress and allergies. i can't get rid of the stress or the allergies right now. should i just take albuterol as needed?

No: You need additional anti-inflammatory treatment such as inhaled steroids with every albuterol. Symptoms are the tip of an iceberg. Albuterol decreases your airway tightness but does nothing to treat the underlying cause. Check with your lung doc.

Depends on severity: You can use albuterol as needed without any other treatment unless you require the albuterol more than twice per week, are awakened at night with asthma symptoms more than once a month, or your symptoms prevent normal activities or exercise, or if you have a significant flare requiring an unscheduled doctor or er visit. In any of these cases, you need a controller inhaler - inhaled steroid.