Asthma is the oldest medical word in common use: it first appears in the writings of Hippocrates around 450 BCE and derives from a verb used by Homer. Two and a half millennia later, we continue to argue about its definition and treatment. The drugs we prescribe most are the β adrenergic agonists, both short acting and long acting, although they are associated with an increase in the risk of asthma-related death. We urge many patients to take inhaled corticosteroids, but many forget; for them a good idea might be to use metered dose inhalers with an audiovisual reminder device, according to a trial from New Zealand (