For years, doctors have been trying to figure out why heart disease is such a problem for so many people.
It turns out, they may have found some answers from the past.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine found atherosclerosis in an unexpected place. CT scans recently showed ancient Egyptians had heart disease.
"Disease we see in arteries of these ancient mummies looks just like they see in modern day patients," said Dr. Randall Thompson, cardiologist.
22 mummies from the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo were put through the body scans. Researchers say they were much more than ancient artifacts. Researchers learned personal details about Egyptians who lived 3,500 years ago, such as Lady Rai, nursemaid to Queen Amos Nefertiti.
"We know her name, her employer, and other sarcophagus, and the name of her parents," said Dr. Thompson.
She also had heart disease. In fact, researchers found many of the female and male mummies, especially those who died after age 45, had diseased hearts. Such findings raise new questions about the cause of heart disease since people of that era did not smoke, eat trans fats, and exercised more than people today.
It seems the current questions about heart disease may also be among the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
"This disease is a genetic hand me down, its as old as Moses," Dr. Thompson added.
Researchers say we may have to look beyond modern times to find answers to what ails us. However, this is not a license to go out and eat fatty food. Doctors say it does help explain why some people who try to live healthy still have problems with heart attacks.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association conference in Orlando, Florida.
Kristen Dahlgren, NBC News.
