We often think of coronary artery disease as an ailment that reflects problems of our modern lifestyle. But thanks to coronary calcium scoring, we now know that this isn’t the case — at least not completely.
Heart Disease And Ancient Mummies
In 2013, researchers performed full-body scans of 137 mummies from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. They had lived in four different regional populations, dating back more than 4,000 years.
The scans found evidence of atherosclerosis in 47 of the mummies.
In what is to date the oldest recorded case of heart disease, evidence of coronary plaque was discovered in a princess who had died when she was between 45 and 50 years old, and who had lived in 1500 BC.
We often blame heart disease on the pressures and habits of our modern life.
I believe those factors play a significant part.
But these findings also show that the scourge of heart disease has always been with us.