The Fate of the Egyptians

Too many big macs, a sedatory lifestyle and an overdose of the good life aren't the only things causing heart disease. According to research carried out on Mummies at Cairo's Museum of Antiquities, heart disease - in particular hardening of the artery walls - has been around since the time of the Egyptians.

This suggests there is a genetic disposition towards heart disease as it is certain our mummified subjects weren't tucking into burgers and smoking 3500 years ago. So what did cause the heart disease in the Egyptian era?
That's yet to be determined. While scientists determine if there is a genetic link to atherosclerosis, here are some things you can do to limit your risk of heart disease in today's world:

Get active - exercise lowers the risk of cardiac disease.

Eat right - Burgers in moderation are fine but reducing the amount of fatty foods and salt you consume and increasing your intake of nutrition rich foods will help ward off heart disease.

Stop smoking! - Smoking is the number one cause of health problems after obesity.


Drink responsibly - Too much alcohol increases your risk of heart disease.


Manage your stress- Stress causes people to take on unhealthy habits such as over-eating, drinking alcohol, or smoke tobacco.