I agree with you, for the most part...but for mild cases (which is like half of all cases) the lungs aren't as inflamed, and they sure aren't as twitchy. There are people out there who have been diagnosed with mild asthma because they had trouble breathing at some point in their lives. My brother is one of those persons. Now, he is not on any maintainance but he lives a normal life. Why? Because his inflammation isn't significant enough to cause his lungs to be so twitchy. I agree that if anyone has asthma that uses their rescue meds twice a week or feels as though they should, needs to be on some type of controller medication, but there are some out there who just have the exercise-induced problems. If your body is doing a good job at keeping that inflammation at bay and you aren't using any controller medications and you have not had a life-threatening attack, then I don't see why some people can enjoy going without medication (aside from the occasional, VERY OCCASIONAL use of a rescue inhaler). In your logic, that person's lungs are worsening. Well, in that case, if your lungs are always worsening without the use of the inhaled steroids (which they are not, some lungs control their own inflammation) then they are going to be on a maintainence drug anyway and they might as well enjoy being medless for a bit. With people who are mild and haven't had a life-threatening attack, the use of a little albuterol or maxair or whatever, should relieve whatever tightness they experience. These people will notice they are going downhill MUCH sooner than most expect, because they live at the top of that hill. This is why, though, it is dangerous for those with asthma or any type of chronic illness to self-medicate, and this is why you should ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS visit a doctor if there is any change in breathing, medication usage, etc.