Despite improvements in treatment for asthma, the death rate from this disease has doubled during the past decade from its previous rate. Two possible explanations for this increase have been offered. First, the recording of deaths due to asthma has become more widespread and accurate in the past decade than it had been previously. Second, there has been an increase in urban pollution. However, since the rate of deaths due to asthma has increased dramatically even in cities with long-standing, comprehensive medical records and with little or no urban pollution, one must instead conclude that the cause of increased deaths is the use of bronchial inhalers by asthma sufferers to relieve their symptoms. Each of the following, if true, provides support to the argument EXCEPT: ['By temporarily relieving the symptoms of asthma, inhalers encourage sufferers to avoid more beneficial measures.', 'Evidence suggests that bronchial inhalers make the lungs more sensitive to irritation by airborne pollen.', 'Ten years ago bronchial inhalers were not available as an asthma treatment.', 'Urban populations have doubled in the past decade.']