Heart attacks are now the most common cause of death among women in Bermuda, claiming the lives of four women on the Island each month.

And some of the women suffering heart attacks are still only in their 40s.

The revelation proves that Bermuda is reflecting a world-wide trend that has seen heart disease become the biggest killer of women.

And it is thought the primary causes are poor diet and oversized portions of food together with a predominately sedentary lifestyle.

?Everything is all about ?let?s get more?, the 99 cent super-sized fries and drink and virtual lifestyle where you can get everything online from degrees to shopping,? said Cardiac Care Nurse Specialist Myrian Balitian-Dill, of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital?s cardiac diagnostic unit. ?We have dishwashers and conveniences that have made us very sedentary and then there is all the food that we are eating, I mean what happened to the little, weenie size bagel? Now it?s super-sized and that?s the norm.?

If that wasn?t bad enough the emergence of heart disease amongst women has caught out many in the medical profession, because historically it is men in their 40s and older who have tended to present the symptoms and been the focus of diagnosis ? not women.

Now doctors and other specialists need to be alert to women who may or may not be diabetic and are experiencing chest pains.

What can women do to lessen their risk of suffering a heart attack?

Take some regular exercise, know their blood pressure (something around 120/80 would be ideal), know their cholesterol levels and alter their diet if it is too high. A practical way for all women to help combat female heart disease comes next Sunday, October 16 when a women-only 5K run and walk is being held at the Botanical Gardens to raise awareness of the issue and fundraise for the Bermuda Heart Foundation?s Women & Heart Disease educational campaign.

?This is a truly important cause, and we invite Bermuda women of all ages to come out and walk and run next Sunday to support it,? said race director Rosemary Jones, of Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club.

?Last year a record 625 participants crossed the finish line and entries are already pouring in this time.?

This will be the eighth annual PartnerRe Women?s 5k Run and Walk and there will be a corporate trophy to the company with the most employees finishing, while the school with the most finishers will receive a $500 cash gift dedicated to sports programmes and equipment.

Since it was launched in 1998 the event, sponsored by PartnerRe Ltd., has raised more than $65,000 for female-related causes in Bermuda.

The first 600 registered entrants this year will receive a T-shirt and gift bag. Entry forms are available from Sportseller, Winners Edge and Sports R Us. The closing date is on Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. Entrants can collect race numbers between 10 a.m. and noon next Saturday at the Botanical Gardens? visitor centre, when late entries will also be accepted. The Bermuda Heart Foundation will be carrying out free blood-pressure and blood-sugar testing during the morning.

On race day there is a junior girls? race over 3K at 8.45 a.m. followed by a 5K run and walk for adult women at 9.15 a.m. Nearly $10,000 of prizes will be up for grabs including a grand prize draw for two round-trip tickets on Continental Airlines. A post-race breakfast is sponsored by Butterfield & Vallis with Nestle.