The cases of atherosclerosis by the ancient Egyptians

Cardiologists Adel Allam from Cairo Medical School, Al-Azhar University (Egypt), Gregory Thomas of the University of California at Irvine (USA) and their colleagues conducted extensive and most complete to date study of atherosclerosis in the ancient Egyptians. Scientists have found that in 44 mummies cardiovascular tissue preserved in a condition suitable for research. Of these, 45% had definite or probable signs of hardening of the arteries. "We're a little surprised by how often met atherosclerosis in relatively young Egyptians, – said study co-author, James Sutherland, a radiologist from the Radiology Medical Group, South Coast (USA). – Average life expectancy at the time was about forty years. " Are well known factors that increase the risk of atherosclerosis: smoking, genetic predisposition to heart disease, calorie-rich diet, lack of exercise. But how prevalent are these factors in Ancient Egypt? According to ancient inscriptions, rich Egyptians loved cakes with honey, but at the same time, they did not smoke tobacco, and, most likely in the absence of cars many walked. "Therefore, we believe that there were other risk factors which are not now" – said Thomas. One such factor could be an infection. Parasitic diseases – malaria and schistosomiasis – are endemic to the Nile Valley and the ancient Egyptians almost did not know how to treat them. "So all that the Egyptians possessed to fight these diseases – was an inflammatory reaction of the body" – emphasizes another co-author Michael Miyamoto, a cardiologist from the Internal Medical Group Mishnah Viejo (USA). Inflammation helps to get rid of the agents of infection and speed healing, but adults tend to pay a high price: a strong inflammatory response may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Now the researchers plan to test this hypothesis. Since microscopic signs of inflammation may be absent in the ancient, dried-up tissue, experts are going to look for indirect signs of inflammation by computed tomography. First of all they are interested in chronic infections – such as periodontitis.