If you think that heart diseases have only been rampant this century, think again. A new research has just found out that heart illnesses are very much in existence in the past years. In fact, an examination of mummies has revealed that the Ancient Egyptians suffer from hardening of the arteries. The research believes that the causes for heart diseases lie beyond the usual smoking, fast food and remote control.

Out of the 22 mummies studied, 16 have hearts or arteries that where preserved. And of those 16, nine were found out to have a blockage from atherosclerosis. “This disease has been around since before the time of Moses,” said Randall Thompson of the St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City.

The findings were presented on November 17 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2009. It was also published in the November 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The mummies, who range from 2,000 to 3,500 years old, all underwent modern CT scan for the testing of buildup of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances inside artery walls.

The most ancient mummy to have suffered from heart disease was found out to be Lady Rai, a nursemaid to Queen Amrose Nefertari. According to Samuel Wann of the Wisconsin Heart Hospital in Wauwatosa, scientists believe at first that heart diseases are illness of the modern man. He said that the recently concluded research will offer groundbreaking paradigms to scientists all over the world.

“We have a debate among our colleagues whether atherosclerosis is inevitable if you live long enough,” he said.

But the findings do not mean, of course, that modern risk factors have no bearing on the development of heart diseases. People should still watch out carefully for their health (the way they eat and their lifestyles) to prevent diseases like the complications inflicted upon the mummies.