This won't be super scientific, but they may be talking about asthma that is triggered by allergens versus asthma that is triggered by sickness. I was diagnosed asthmatic as a young kid, and I've always been the latter type.

There is also an exercise induced asthma. With this form, when the person exercises, the nasal and bronchial airways get inflamed causing breathing to be labored.

Yeah there's alot of different types I've had asthma literally my whole life and I'm just learning I have something called allergic asthma triggered by dust, grass, cold air. What asthma do you have?