About 4,000-year old mummies found by CT scanning to have evidence of vascular disease

In this undated photo released Sunday March 10, 2013, by a group of cardiologists lead by Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, USA, showing the sarcophagus of the mummy Hatiay (New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1550 to 1295 BCE) as it is closed after the mummy underwent a CT scanning, in Cairo, Egypt. This scanning is part of a major survey to investigate some 137 mummies which has revealed that people probably had clogged arteries and heart disease some 4,000 years ago. CT scans of 137 mummies showed evidence of atherosclerosis, or hardened arteries, in one third of those examined, including those from ancient people believed to have healthy lifestyles.

In this undated photo released Sunday March 10, 2013, by a group of cardiologists lead by Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, USA, showing The mummy Hatiay (New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1550 to 1295 BCE) being scanned in CAiro, Egypt, where it was found to have evidence of extensive vascular disease by CT scanning. <AP Photo/Dr. Michael Miyamoto>