Heart Disease Found in Ancient Peoples
Node Smith, ND
A new imaging study of the mummified arteries of people who lived thousands of years ago revealed that their arteries were more clogged than originally thought, according to a proof-of-concept study led by a researcher with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). It is published in the American Heart Journal.
Proof-of-concept study revealed arteries were more clogged than originally thought
“I wanted to see if heart disease is a modern-day problem. It appears to have been a problem for a very long time,” said Mohammad Madjid, MD, MS, study’s lead author and assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.
In the past when researchers analyzed the hearts and arteries of mummies, they used an imaging technique called computed tomography (CT scan) that creates meticulous images of blood vessels, organs, and bones. However, these scans detect only accumulated calcium in the arteries, not buildup of cholesterol.
Madjid said his team is the first to examine mummified arterial remains from different parts of the world with an imaging technique that detects cholesterol. It is called near-infrared spectroscopy.
“A catheter is placed on the sample and it sends out signals. The signals bounce off the tissue and come back. You can tell the difference between various tissue components because each has a unique molecular signature like a fingerprint,” Madjid said.
Madjid’s samples included mummified arterial tissue from three men and two women ranging in age from 18 to 55-60. Three died presumably of pneumonia and one of renal failure. The cause of death for the fifth person is unknown. Four lived in South America and one in the Middle East. They lived from the late Chinchorro era, 2000 B.C., to Cabuza, 350 to 1000 A.D.
Type of arterial disease detected
The type of arterial disease detected is the result of cholesterol plaque buildup in arteries and is formally called atherosclerosis. It limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to various parts of the body, and it can lead to a heart attack.
Cholesterol buildup is a hallmark of atherosclerosis
Cholesterol buildup is a hallmark of atherosclerosis from the very early stages, while calcium accumulation is a sign of late stages of the disease. Therefore, relying only on calcium by CT scan underestimates the true prevalence of the disease, Madjid said.
Madjid, who is affiliated with UT Physicians and the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute -Texas Medical Center, said factors such as exposure to smoke from fire pits, viral infections, bacterial infections, and bad genes might have contributed to the plaque buildup in people living centuries ago.
The buildup was also present in people at a relatively young age, he said.
Study offers new insight into the earlier pathological stages of atherosclerosis
The study offers new insight into the earlier pathological stages of atherosclerosis, showing a prevalence of cholesterol-rich plaques even in ancient times, the authors reported.
Madjid plans to examine additional mummified remains to see how widespread the arterial problems were.
Authors concluded the following
The authors concluded, “Noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy is a promising technique for studying ancient mummies of various cultures to gain insight into the origins of atherosclerosis.”
- Madjid, M. et al. (2019) High prevalence of cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic lesions in ancient mummies: A near-infrared spectroscopy study. American Heart Journal. doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2019.06.018.
Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and associate editor and continuing education director for NDNR. His mission is serving relationships that support the process of transformation, and that ultimately lead to healthier people, businesses and communities. His primary therapeutic tools include counselling, homeopathy, diet and the use of cold water combined with exercise. Node considers health to be a reflection of the relationships a person or a business has with themselves, with God and with those around them. In order to cure disease and to heal, these relationships must be specifically considered. Node has worked intimately with many groups and organizations within the naturopathic profession, and helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic Revitalization (ANR), which works to promote and facilitate experiential education in vitalism.
Utafiti wa hivi karibuni wa upigaji picha wa mishipa ya damu ya watu walioishi maelfu ya miaka iliyopita umeonyesha kuwa mishipa yao ilikuwa imefungwa zaidi kuliko ilivyodhaniwa awali, kulingana na utafiti ulioongozwa na mtafiti wa Chuo Kikuu cha Texas Health Science Center huko Houston. Utafiti huo umechapishwa katika jarida la American Heart Journal. Utafiti wa uthibitisho wa dhana ulifunua mishipa ya damu ilikuwa imefungwa zaidi kuliko ilivyodhaniwa awali <unk>Nilitaka kuona kama ugonjwa wa moyo ni tatizo la kisasa. "Inaonekana kuwa tatizo kwa muda mrefu sana,"" alisema Mohammad Madjid, MD, MS, mwandishi mkuu wa utafiti na profesa msaidizi wa tiba ya moyo na mishipa, McGovern Medical School katika UTHealth." Katika miaka ya nyuma, wakati watafiti walipochunguza moyo na mishipa ya damu ya watu waliokufa, walitumia mbinu ya kupima kwa kompyuta (CT scan) ambayo ilitoa picha za mishipa ya damu, viungo vya mwili, na mifupa. Hata hivyo, uchunguzi huo huonyesha tu kalsiamu iliyojikusanya katika mishipa ya damu, wala si cholesterol. Madjid alisema timu yake ni ya kwanza kuchunguza mabaki ya mishipa ya damu kutoka sehemu tofauti za dunia kwa kutumia mbinu ya upimaji wa picha ambayo hupata kolesteroli. Inaitwa spectroscopy ya karibu-infrared. <unk>Katheter huwekwa kwenye sampuli na hutuma ishara. Ishara hizo hupiga juu ya tishu na kurudi. Unaweza kusema tofauti kati ya vipengele mbalimbali vya tishu kwa sababu kila moja ina saini ya kipekee ya molekuli kama alama ya kidole, <unk> Madjid alisema. Madjid alitoa sampuli za mishipa ya damu ya wanaume watatu na wanawake wawili wenye umri wa miaka 18 hadi 55. Huenda watatu walikufa kutokana na nimonia na mmoja kutokana na kushindwa kwa figo. Sababu ya kifo cha mtu wa tano haijulikani. Wanne waliishi Amerika Kusini na mmoja katika Mashariki ya Kati. Walitokea katika kipindi cha mwisho cha utawala wa Chinchoro, mwaka 2000 KK, hadi Cabuza, mwaka 350 KK hadi 1000 KK. Aina ya ugonjwa wa mishipa ya damu unaojulikana kama atherosclerosis ni ugonjwa unaosababishwa na kuongezeka kwa cholesterol kwenye mishipa ya damu. Hii hupunguza mtiririko wa damu yenye oksijeni kwenye sehemu mbalimbali za mwili na inaweza kusababisha mshtuko wa moyo. Kuongezeka kwa cholesterol ni dalili ya ugonjwa wa atherosclerosis, na kuongezeka kwa cholesterol ni dalili ya ugonjwa wa atherosclerosis, wakati mkusanyiko wa kalsiamu ni ishara ya hatua za mwisho za ugonjwa. Kwa hiyo, kutegemea tu kalsiamu kwa CT scan hupunguza kiwango cha kweli cha ugonjwa huo, Madjid alisema. Madjid, ambaye ni mwanachama wa UT Physicians na Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute - Texas Medical Center, alisema sababu kama vile kuambukizwa moshi kutoka kwa mashimo ya moto, maambukizo ya virusi, maambukizo ya bakteria, na jeni mbaya zinaweza kuwa zimechangia mkusanyiko wa plaque kwa watu wanaoishi karne nyingi zilizopita. Alisema kwamba ongezeko hilo lilitokea pia kwa watu waliokuwa na umri mdogo. Utafiti huo unaonyesha kuwa kuna idadi kubwa ya vidonda vya cholesterol hata katika nyakati za kale. Madjid anapanga kuchunguza mabaki mengine ya mimea ili kuona jinsi matatizo ya mishipa ya damu yalivyokuwa yameenea. "Wanafunzi wa utafiti huo walipata matokeo haya: ""Uchunguzi wa spectroscopy ya infrared ya karibu ni mbinu ya kuahidi kwa ajili ya kujifunza mummies za kale za tamaduni mbalimbali ili kupata ufahamu juu ya asili ya atherosclerosis.""" Ugonjwa wa atherosclerotic wenye cholesterol katika mimea ya kale: Utafiti wa spectroscopy ya karibu-infrared. Jarida la Moyo la Marekani. (Dai.org 10.10.16 - J.A.H. 2019) Node Smith, MD, ni daktari wa naturopathic huko Humboldt, Saskatchewan na mhariri mwenza na mkurugenzi wa elimu ya kuendelea kwa NDNR. Ujumbe wake ni kuhudumia mahusiano ambayo yanaunga mkono mchakato wa mabadiliko, na ambayo mwishowe husababisha watu wenye afya, biashara na jamii. Vifaa vyake vya msingi vya matibabu ni pamoja na ushauri, homeopathy, lishe na matumizi ya maji baridi pamoja na mazoezi. Node inazingatia afya kuwa mwangaza wa uhusiano wa mtu au biashara na wao wenyewe, na Mungu na wale walio karibu nao. Ili kutibu magonjwa na kupona, mahusiano haya lazima yafikiriwe hasa. Node amefanya kazi kwa karibu na vikundi na mashirika mengi ndani ya taaluma ya naturopathic, na alisaidia kuanzisha shirika lisilo la faida, Chama cha Revitalization ya Naturopathic (ANR), ambayo inafanya kazi kukuza na kuwezesha elimu ya uzoefu katika vitalism.