Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as a symbol of strength, resilience, and the "strenuous life." But before he became a war hero, a cowboy, and the 26th president of the United States, he was a frail, sickly child tormented by severe asthma. His early struggles with the condition shaped his determination to overcome obstacles, though the treatments he endured were often as painful as the disease itself.
What Was Roosevelt’s Asthma Like?
Young Roosevelt’s asthma attacks were terrifying. He often woke in the middle of the night, gasping for breath, feeling as though he was suffocating. Medical science in the mid-19th century had little understanding of asthma, and the available treatments ranged from useless to outright torture—a word Roosevelt himself might have used to describe them.
The Treatments: A Mix of Folk Remedies and Pseudo-Science
Roosevelt’s family, desperate for relief, turned to Dr. Henry Hyde Salter, a British physician whose book, On Asthma: Its Pathology and Treatment (1860), was one of the leading texts on the condition at the time. Salter believed that asthma had a nervous component and could be treated through exposure therapy, stimulants, and inducing extreme bodily reactions. Some of the treatments Roosevelt endured included:
Cigar Smoking – Salter believed that smoking could relax the airways, particularly if it induced nausea, faintness, or vomiting. Roosevelt, just a child, was made to smoke cigars in an attempt to stop attacks—an experience he surely found miserable.
Stramonium Smoke – This treatment involved inhaling the smoke of dried Datura stramonium leaves (a plant in the nightshade family) to relieve airway constriction. Some patients found temporary relief, but it was hardly a cure.
Strong Coffee – Caffeine, a mild bronchodilator, was one of the more effective treatments Roosevelt’s family used. Salter advocated for strong doses of coffee during attacks, and Roosevelt reportedly relied on it.
Mustard Plasters – Applied to the chest, mustard plasters were meant to stimulate circulation and “draw out” illness. In reality, they often just caused burning pain.
Late-Night Carriage Rides – Theodore Roosevelt Sr., deeply concerned for his son, would take him on fast carriage rides through New York City at night, hoping the rush of air would help him breathe.
The Psychological Toll
For young Theodore, asthma wasn’t just physically debilitating—it was socially isolating. He often had to stay indoors while other boys played. His suffering was compounded by the belief (common at the time) that asthma was partly caused by weakness or nervous temperament.
How Roosevelt Overcame His Condition
Theodore Roosevelt Sr. refused to let his son accept frailty as his fate. He encouraged vigorous exercise, eventually building a home gym and pushing young Theodore to box, hike, row, and lift weights. As Roosevelt grew older, he adopted what he called the “strenuous life”, strengthening his body to the point where his asthma attacks became less frequent. By his teenage years, he had largely outgrown the worst of his condition, though he remained prone to respiratory issues throughout his life.
Legacy of His Struggle
Roosevelt’s battle with asthma shaped his entire outlook. He learned to push through adversity, which later translated into his fearless leadership, both in politics and on the battlefield. His early health struggles might have made him seem an unlikely future president, but they instead forged the resilience that made him one of the most dynamic leaders in American history.
His story remains an inspiration—not just for those with asthma, but for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. If a frail, asthmatic child could grow up to charge up San Juan Hill, break up monopolies, and establish the National Parks, who’s to say what the rest of us are capable of?
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