London, Apr 5 (ANI): Scientists have detected the first known case of clogged arteries - or atherosclerosis - in the mummy of an Egyptian princess who lived 3,500 years ago.
The pressures of modern living are regularly held responsible for causing heart attacks and strokes.
But the new finding suggests that these afflictions are not solely by-products of our hectic times.
It has long been known that ancient Egyptians suffered from plaque built-up in the arteries, but a University of California, Irvine-led study has concluded that the condition was far more prevalent than previously thought.
"Atherosclerosis is widespread among modern day humans and, despite differences in ancient and modern lifestyles, we found that it was rather common in ancient Egyptians of high socio-economic status living more than three millennia ago," the Daily Mail quoted lead researcher Dr Gregory Thomas as saying.
Researchers performed computerised tomography (CT) scans, with particular attention to the cardiovascular system, on 52 Egyptian mummies to determine whether they had atherosclerosis.
Of the 44 that had detectable arteries or hearts, 45 per cent of them had calcium build-ups in their vessel walls.
The oldest among them was Lady Rai, an Egyptian princess who lived between 1580 and 1550 BC. The researchers believe she probably died when she was in her early 40s.
The nursemaid to Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, she lived about 300 years prior to the time of Moses and 200 years before King Tutankhamun.
All the mummies whose identities could be discerned were of high socio-economic status, generally serving in the Pharaoh's court or as priests or priestesses.
The diets of individual mummies could not be determined, but it was common at the time - especially among the upper classes - to eat meat in the form of cattle, ducks and geese.
But even though ancient Egyptians ate a leaner diet, and obviously did not smoke cigarettes, they ended up with the same disease as modern humans. (ANI)
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