Milwaukee Woman Shares Heart Disease Journey on National Wear Red Day

Bridgette Bendzka's story highlights the importance of women's self-advocacy and recognizing atypical heart disease symptoms.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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National Wear Red Day serves as an annual reminder that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, responsible for one in five deaths each year. Milwaukee resident Bridgette Bendzka's personal journey illustrates the challenges many women face, from initially dismissed symptoms to a rare genetic heart condition diagnosis. Her story underscores the vital need for women to advocate for their health and recognize that heart disease can present with atypical symptoms beyond just chest pain.

Why it matters

Awareness campaigns and personal narratives like Bendzka's are helping to bridge the gap in recognition and treatment of heart disease in women. Her experience highlights the importance of women not accepting dismissive explanations from healthcare providers and seeking second opinions when necessary.

The details

Bendzka's symptoms, including hair loss, anxiety, and weight gain, were initially attributed to menopause before leading to a diagnosis of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic heart condition. This underscores how women often experience less obvious signs of heart disease, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and indigestion-like sensations, which can delay proper diagnosis and treatment.

  • National Wear Red Day is observed annually.

The players

Bridgette Bendzka

A Milwaukee resident who shared her personal journey with a rare genetic heart condition, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Dr. Noa Holoshitz

A medical expert who emphasizes that if something feels wrong, it shouldn't be ignored when it comes to women's heart health.

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What they’re saying

“If something feels wrong, it shouldn't be ignored.”

— Dr. Noa Holoshitz (newsy-today.com)

The takeaway

Bendzka's journey highlights the importance of women's self-advocacy and recognizing atypical heart disease symptoms. By staying informed and proactive, women can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease and live longer, healthier lives.