The Difference Between Life and Death

I know, I know. This isn't the first time I've pointed out badly-written commercial copy. But I just can't let it slide. This one is for Symbicort, an asthma inhaler which is not intended to replace a rescue inhaler. Nevertheless, it apparently opens airways and makes breathing easier. I'm all for this, of course. I mean, it's an asthma medication. If it didn't at the minimum make breathing easier, then this would be a letter to the FDA and to AstraZeneca. But the thing I find teeth-gratingly annoying, is that the purported asthma sufferer depicted (for no good reason, in silhouette) says, and I'm paraphrasing, but I swear it's no more ridiculous than the real stuff, "With Symbicort, I can breathe more freely and reduce my need for rescue inhalers. That makes a difference to me!"

I'm sorry. WHAT? You're kidding, right? So you're saying the fact that you don't fear for your life at every moment makes a difference in how you feel? It puts Symbicort on your Christmas list? Whereas before, the tightness in your chest and constricted breathing were just okay. But this, this really makes a noticeable difference. Huh.

Lame, lazy copy. I mean it. Don't make me blog about it again.

Jenny