Famous People with Asthma Trivia Quiz

Answer: T. S. Eliot

T.S Eliot was known for his works "Cats", "The Murder in the Cathedral", and "The Elder Statesman". He also wrote many works of poetry, including "The Waste Land". T.S Eliot struggled in his later years with severe bronchitis and asthma due to London smog and pollution.

He frequently traveled to warmer climates with his wife to escape the cold winters, due to his frail health. In December of 1962, he collapsed from coughing fits and could not travel as planned. He spent five weeks in the hospital and later died of emphysema, just a few days before his eighth wedding anniversary.

Answer: Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens wrote letters that recorded him having convulsive asthmatic coughs that led to sleepless nights. Dickens also had frequent chest colds and coughs that lasted for months. In his era, asthmatics had no inhalers and relied on opium or home remedies. He often carried with him a significant medical supply and asked friends for advice.

While touring the United States, Charles Dickens wrote in a letter to friends, "I have coughed from two or three in the morning until five or six, and have been absolutely sleepless. I have had no appetite besides, and no taste. Last night here I took some laudanum, and it is the only thing that has done me good." (Nick Cambridge, Bleak Health, "Charles Dicken's Health Revisited")

In many of his works, Dickens referenced illness. Some of the characters in Dickens' books had troubles similar to asthmatics. Mr. Omar, from David Copperfield, suffered from asthma and smoked opium to ease his coughing.

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Physicians in Beethoven's day practiced medicine based on the Greco-Roman theories of bodily humors; the elements of blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm affected sickness and mood swings. The medical methods had some positives but also downfalls. Sicknesses such as asthma were not understood and were believed asthma to be caused by a person having too much blood in one's body; they were treated by methods such as bloodletting and smoking causing patients to have more problems. One less brutal treatment physicians used in Beethoven's time was coffee; the caffeine and steam were believed to open the bronchial tubes, giving relief to the individual.

Beethoven had a relatively rough health history that led to him dying at the age of 54. He took many medications that physicians stored in lead containers, causing him bowel disease, gradual complete deafness, and extreme coughing spells. To hear his music, Beethoven cut off the legs of the piano and listened to the vibrations on the floor. Although he had coughing spells before conducting performances, Beethoven did not let it stop his success or career. He has become one of the most well-noted composers of classical music in history.

Answer: John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones was engaged in a battle with a British vessel known as the "Serapis", when it seemed that his side had lost. The Serapis called out to his vessel, "Sir, has your ship sunk?". Jones replied, "I have not yet begun to fight." Although Jones' ship sank, in three more hours of fighting, the British surrendered with the Americans at the helm of their ship.

Jones died in France in 1792, while on a diplomatic mission for the United States government. He was found lying on the floor of an apartment at the age of 45. At the time, France was in political turmoil. He was buried in a royal cemetery, but revolutionaries sold the property and he was quickly forgotten. In 1905, his remains were located and moved to the United States. The autopsy revealed that in his last two years, he had lung damage from a persistent cough that caused labored breathing. The autopsy also revealed he had heart damage and high blood pressure that was consistent with his lung disease and complications.

Answer: Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren helped found the Democratic Party in the United States. His talents as a skilled politician and gifted speaker earned him the attention of Andrew Jackson, who selected him as a running mate in 1832. He became vice president in 1833 and was known for his ability to negotiate between parties in Congress behind the scenes.

Martin Van Buren started developing coughing fits and shortness of breath when he was in his forties. He dealt with asthma for forty years. He won the presidency his first term, with endorsement from Andrew Jackson, his predecessor. When General William Henry Harrison challenged his weaknesses and presidential record in the next election, people were more attracted to the stronger war hero than the short coughing old man. Harrison frequently mocked Buren's conditions with songs and taunts. Buren lost the race. Ironically Harrison died 30 days after his presidential inauguration due to pneumonia.

In 1862, Buren developed severe pneumonia from asthma attacks and fell into a coma. He later died from heart failure and complications.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy's childhood was plagued by severe cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria. His weakened immune system had trouble fighting frequent colds, sinus infections, and bronchitis. He had severe asthma attacks and allergic reactions to dogs, which resulted in him being hospitalized on more than one occasion. As a child, Kennedy had an optimistic attitude that his sickness was not a handicap; he believed that he could do anything and tried to be athletic. His athletic efforts only increased when he tried joining the football, swimming, golf, hockey, and softball in college. When he developed Addington's disease, the medication also helped eased his asthma attacks. However, it did not erase his allergic reactions to animals. During one night's stay at his father's apartment in New York City, an unsuspecting dog triggered a life-threatening asthmatic reaction that landed him in the hospital.

Kennedy continued to strive for excellence and encourage others. In his presidency, he faced many challenging times, including the fears of the Soviet Union, China, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He encouraged the destruction of the Berlin wall, civil rights, and the race to the moon. His life was cut short by his assassination in Dallas, Texas, on November 23, 1963.

Answer: True

Venus Williams was once a world leader in Women's Tennis singles and doubles. In 2005, Venus Williams was struggling in her tennis performance with breathing and unclear lung symptoms. Her doctors could not pinpoint the problems at first, because she was in excellent physical condition due to her athletic routine. Her symptoms continued to worsen with time. In 2009, she pulled out of the U.S Open, due to joint pain, hand swelling, numbness, fatigue, dry eyes, and dry mouth. When playing, she could not breathe or focus. She was finally diagnosed with Sjorgen's syndrome and exercised induced asthma soon afterward.

In her career, Williams has won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal.

Answer: his own asthma condition worsening

Dr. Robert Bree was a successful physician at a Leicester infirmary in the 1780's. His reputation earned him many patients that traveled to receive care. During his time at the infirmary, he developed asthma. Asthma at this time period was not understood by many doctors and had very little treatment options. Dr. Bree studied his condition and tried to find remedies to help others.

However, his condition worsened to the point he could not perform his physician duties. He withdrew from his practice in 1793 and accepted a position in a militia regiment near the sea.

He was surprised when his asthma attacks almost disappeared in the different environment. In 1796 he published his work on asthma, "A Practical Inquiry into Disordered Respiration, distinguishing the species of Convulsive Asthma, their Causes, and Indications of Cure".

He included his experiments, his experiences, and his observances of environments. When he relocated to London at the request of the royal monarchy, his asthma attacks returned with a vengeance.

The smog, pollution, and weather affected his asthma and health for the remainder of his life.

Answer: Christopher Reeve

Asthma was one of many illnesses that caused complications with medicines and treatments throughout Christopher Reeve's life. However, asthma did not stop him from becoming one of the most athletic stars and screen superheroes of Hollywood. "Superman" became one of the highlighted roles of his career. Reeve continued the role for four movies.

In 1995, Reeve was participating in a horse riding competition when he was thrown off and broke his neck; the accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Despite the accident and health problems, he still participated in movies, screenwriting, motivational speaking, and book writing afterward. In 2004 he died of heart complications from a medical treatment.

Answer: her doctor

Amy Van Dyken's childhood doctor suggested to her family to give her swimming lessons at the age of 6 to help with her asthma attacks. The warm air and water gave relief to Amy's condition. She developed a love for the sport and a talent that changed her life.

She became the first American woman to win four Olympic gold swimming medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She won more gold swimming medals in 2000.

In 2014 she was in an ATV accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She continued to spend her time after her accident speaking for children's miracle networks, asthma awareness, disadvantaged youth, and other medical need charities.