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Arteriosclerosis is a hardening of the blood supplying vessels. Fat (cholesterol), fibrous tissue and calcium build up in the walls of the arteries and harden. In general, the whole arterial system is affected to a greater or lesser extent. Blood clots (thrombus) adhering to the walls can further narrow the arteries and even block them completely, in which case the tissue of the corresponding body part is no longer supplied with oxygen and nutrients and dies off (necrosis, infarct). In the leg region this is referred to as gangrene. Arteriosclerosis primarily affects the over 40 and represents a major public health issue, as it is directly or indirectly responsible for the majority of diseases and deaths in our society. Over 5 % of people aged 60 and over suffer from a peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
A number of factors play a role in developing arteriosclerosis: some that cannot be eliminated such as family history and increasing age, others that can be influenced include overweight (obesity), diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), lack of physical exercise, smoking, high cholesterol and articular gout. Arteriosclerosis can cause heart attacks, strokes or kidney failure. If the blood supply to the leg muscles is affected, walking any distance can become very painful and finally lead to rest pain and gangrene. In the case of smokers, this affliction is known as smoker’s leg.
Today, the risk factors mentioned above can be treated and prevented successfully. The most important thing is to avoid developing the metabolic syndrome (overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure) frequently observed in our affluent society as well as smoking. Once arteriosclerosis has occurred, it is irreversible. Blocked leg arteries can be opened with non-invasive techniques such as balloon-tipped catheters or invasive methods such as bypass surgery to restore the blood flow. If gangrene has started, there is no other solution than to amputate the affected limb.
Although arteriosclerosis was established repeatedly in Egyptian mummies through radiological evidence of arteriosclerotically changed blood vessels, this disease was not known in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. There are, however, reports of indirect sequels of arteriosclerosis such as strokes and heart attacks. Even Iceman „Ötzi“ suffered from arterial calcification.
While Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) had already depicted arteriosclerotic changes in blood vessels in his anatomical drawings, it was the French doctor Jean-Baptiste de Sénac (1693-1770) who first described arterial calcification in the 18th century. It took a further while until these calcifications could be shown in living persons. Today this visualization is essential for the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis.
The more we learn from mummified tissue regarding the frequency of arteriosclerosis, the sooner we will be able to identify risk situations.
Although early text sources do not allow clear identification of arteriosclerosis, paleontological findings in mummies have proven that arteriosclerosis is not only a modern civilisation disease but must have been a companion of man since his early days.
