I've had asthma diagnosed since I was 7, when there were no inhalers (I'm now 53) or nurses specialising in asthma clinics (as at my local surgery). I am now well on a seretide inhaler and the main improvement for me has been that I take medication regularly and correctly. It's well worth while getting someone to watch you use your inhaler. I hadn't been using mine correctly and as a result had had a very bad attack once when I had a heavy chest cold. Once I knew how and inhaled fully, it has been fine.