Matters of the Heart: Why Women Must Advocate for Their Heart Health
By Samantha Bessudo Drucker | February 23, 2026 | Beauty, Wellness & Movement
February is American Heart Month, a time when we are reminded that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Yet despite how common it is, many women still do not recognize the symptoms of a heart attack, do not realize their own risk factors, or hesitate to advocate for themselves when something feels wrong.
I know this firsthand. I am a heart attack survivor.
When I began experiencing symptoms, I did what most responsible adults do: I sought medical care. But instead of urgent intervention, I was dismissed. Doctor after doctor minimized my complaints or referred me elsewhere. Meanwhile, I had a blockage for at least five days — a blockage that ultimately required emergency surgery to correct.
If I had accepted the dismissals, if I had decided I was “overreacting,” or if I had not understood the seriousness of cardiovascular risk factors in women, I may not be here today. Awareness and self-advocacy saved my life.
Too often, women’s heart attack symptoms present differently than the textbook examples we are taught to recognize. While men frequently report crushing chest pain, women may experience fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, back pain, or discomfort that feels easy to rationalize away. Studies have shown that women are more likely to have their cardiac symptoms misdiagnosed in emergency settings compared to men. That gap in awareness and response can have devastating consequences.
This is why February is not simply symbolic for me. It is personal. It is urgent. And it is why I am fundraising this month for the American Heart Association, an organization dedicated to research, education, and advocacy around cardiovascular disease.
As part of my fundraising efforts, I am donating 20% of the proceeds (approximately $4 per copy) from my book, 90 Days to Husband No. 2: 10 Rules to Find Him, to the American Heart Association throughout the month. Supporting heart health is, quite literally, supporting life!
You can Make a Donation Directly – or you can support by Purchasing a Copy of my Book!
Some of AHA’s 2026 NYC Class of Survivors
From Survivor to Advocate: Class of Survivors 2026
This year, I was honored to be selected for the American Heart Association’s Class of Survivors 2026, a campaign highlighting individuals whose lives have been impacted by heart disease. Being featured alongside fellow survivors — and seeing our stories displayed on a Times Square billboard — was both humbling and powerful. Representation matters. Visibility matters. When women see other women survive and speak openly, it reinforces the importance of listening to their own bodies.
My hope in sharing it is simple: that one woman, somewhere, decides not to ignore her symptoms.
Times Square Billboard, AHA’s NYC 2026 Class of Survivors
Empowering Women in All Matters of the Heart
As a love and lifestyle coach and the author of the humorous self-help book 90 Days to Husband No. 2: 10 Rules to Find Him, I have built my career around guiding women through what I often call “matters of the heart.” For years, I have helped women strengthen their standards, refine their self-worth, and approach relationships with strategy instead of scarcity. My work blends practical tools with humor because transformation does not require shame — it requires clarity and confidence.
But surviving a heart attack deepened that phrase for me. Matters of the heart are not only emotional. They are physical. They are life-or-death.
The same principles I teach in dating – self-advocacy, discernment, listening to your intuition, refusing to settle – are equally critical in healthcare settings. Women are socialized to be agreeable, to downplay discomfort, to avoid being perceived as “dramatic.” Yet those instincts can be dangerous when it comes to our health.
My recent “90 Days to V-Day” digital series is one example of how I break down relationship strategy in an accessible, engaging way, offering women tangible advice, red-flag awareness, and actionable steps delivered with wit. At its core, my work has always been about empowerment: encouraging women to take ownership of their romantic lives, their standards, and their futures.
Now, that message extends fully into women’s health. Whether navigating love or navigating a medical crisis, the throughline is the same: trust yourself, know your worth, and never apologize for advocating for your well-being.
Because true expertise in matters of the heart must honor both the emotional and the physical.
Spread the Word…
If something feels wrong, say something. If you are at risk, get screened. If you are able, learn CPR. Support organizations that fund research and expand access.
Protecting our hearts, in every sense of the word, begins with awareness.
And awareness saves lives.
Photo credit: courtesy Samantha Bessudo Drucker
