Heart distress is a commonly experienced illness, in Maragheh, particularly amongst women of the lower social classes. In a survey we did of a stratified population of 750 persons in Maragheh and three surrounding villages, we asked respondents whether anyone in their family had been sick (maris) with heart distress in the past eight months; if so, who, what treatment was sought, and what was believed to have caused the illness. Nearly 40% of all households had had at least one person who suffered heart distress in eight months. Table I indicates the incidence by household as reported by men and women. The incidence is highest in bazaari and working class households, and is uniformly higher as reported by women in comparison with men. This is because, as Table II shows, heart distress is most commonly an illness of women , particularly of women of childbearing age. Of all reported cases, 55% were women of fifteen to forty-four years of age, and 73% were women of more than fifteen years of age. But it is important to remember that the illness is not limited to women.
When respondents were asked what they believed to be the cause of the illness, almost 40% of the causes suggested were specifically emotional and