http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=7615&utm_source=feedburner&...

A new study finds that atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, was common in ancient Egyptians, challenging a belief that vascular disease is a modern affliction caused by current-day risk factors such as stress and sedentary lifestyles. Michael Miyamoto, MD, a graduate of the UC San Diego School of Medicine and assistant clinical professor, recently returned to the US following an expedition to Egypt to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in 3,500-year-old mummies. Results of his work were presented during the American Heart Associate 2009 Scientific Sessions and published simultaneously in the Journal of the American Medical Association.