Oldest Known Heart Disease



Known as Ahmose Meryet Amon, the princess lived some 3,500 years ago and died in her 40s.

She is the earliest known sufferer of coronary atherosclerosis. Although the mummy's actual heart had been removed before entombment, the CT scans uncovered calcium deposits elsewhere in the body that are indicative of artery damage.

The Ancient Egyptians lacked a lot of the risk factors that we consider to be important in the development of atherosclerosis in modern populations—namely smoking, high rates of diabetes and obesity, and foods rich in fats.

But, since she belonged to the elite, the princess presumably led a more pampered lifestyle, was more sedentary, and also—maybe importantly—had access to foods which were dense in calories, particularly meats

The princess's mummified body is among those now housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Adapted from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110415-ancient-egypt-mummies-princess-heart-disease-health-science/