As we observe American Heart Month, our own Amber Wentz talks listening, advocating, and taking heart health seriously.
Amber Wentz did not fit the profile.
She always has been active and healthy, and as part of her current and previous roles, she is deeply knowledgeable about health care systems.
Heart disease was not something she expected to confront personally, even with a family history. But just after Christmas 2023, her heart told a different story.
“I woke up in the middle of the night not feeling well, like I was going to faint, ,” Amber recalls. “It was Christmas Eve. My kids were home, and we were getting ready for Christmas the next day. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I focused on my breathing until it settled down.”
The day after Christmas, Amber made a call that started a months-long path toward answers and, ultimately, healing.
Healthy, active … and still at risk
Amber already had seen a cardiologist in November 2023 after noticing her blood pressure was running higher than normal. When she called the cardiologist's office on December 26 to set another appointment, she was scheduled with a nurse practitioner who ultimately ended up dismissing her concerns.
That response was unsettling.
“I started crying in the appointment, which is not typical for me, because I felt like I wasn’t being listened to,” Amber says. “I knew something wasn’t right.”
Amber advocated for herself, asking the provider to order a 30-day heart monitor test along with a referral to an electrophysiologist, a specialized cardiologist who treats the heart's electrical system.
Well before that appointment, though, Amber's symptoms returned, this time with greater intensity.
A trip to the ER, and real answers
She once again had awakened with a racing heart. Afraid she might pass out, Amber headed to the hospital, where the emergency room clocked her heart rate at 178 beats per minute. A resting heart rate of 60-80 is typical.
“They tried breathing techniques and medication to slow it down, and it took three doses of strong medication just to get my heart rate back into the 130s," Amber says.
That day, Amber received a diagnosis: atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, an arrythmia that causes the heart's upper chambers to beat chaotically and its ventricles to pump too fast.
Later, she realized her wearable technology had been trying to tell her something was off; her smartwatch had indicated a strong and prolonged heart-rate spike.
“Seeing that data helped everything click,” Amber says. “It was scary, but it was also validating.”
Amber was prescribed medication to regulate her heart rhythm and blood thinners to reduce the likelihood of clot formation in her heart, a common risk of her condition. She began to feel more relaxed than she had in weeks, and empowered as well; she had taken control of a frightening health situation.
Using technology as a tool
Between her ER visit and her electrophysiology appointment, Amber made a change. She switched to a different smartwatch that could trackheart rhythm and run an EKG.
“I had been paying attention to steps and sleep, but not heart rate,” Amber says. “That changed very quickly.”
Soon, her watch detected another atrial fibrillation episode.
“That was frightening,” Amber says. “But it also gave me peace of mind. I knew the technology worked, and I knew when I needed to act.”
Amber is clear that technology is not a replacement for medical care; however, she recommends it as a powerful awareness tool, especially when paired with listening to one's body and paying attention to atypical signals.
Making the decision to move forward
When Amber had met with the electrophysiologist, she had learned something important: Atrial fibrillation is more common in younger people than many realize, and it is treatable.
She and her doctor had discussed triggers, including dehydration, caffeine, and alcohol. Despite avoiding those and always taking her medications as prescribed, though, Amber continued to experience episodes.
“I learned I wouldn’t be able to come off blood thinners without an ablation, which treats arrythmias by scarring or destroying the heart tissue that is causing the abnormal electrical signals,” Amber says. “I felt unsettled about it, but I ultimately made the decision to move forward with the procedure.”
“I watch my hydration status keenly, and I'm simply more intentional than ever about all aspects of my health," Amber says.
Advocacy, support and perspective
Amber feels one of the most important lessons she can share is the important of advocating for oneself, especially when dealing with physical or mental health issues; after all, each of us is the only one who lives in our body.
“You have to be understand what your health care provider is telling you, and if you don't or if something doesn’t feel right, keep asking questions," she advises. "Then, if need be, find another provider.”
In addition to her own perseverance, Amber credits the support she received from her WesleyLife colleagues with her recovery.
“My team covered for me, checked in, and genuinely cared,” Amber says. “It felt like a family. I knew I had support if I needed to take time to focus on my health.”
That sense of care and connection is one reason Amber continues to feel deeply aligned with WesleyLife’s focus on health and well-being.
"We support ways to achieve holistic wellness — not just physical fitness, but emotional and spiritual wellness, too," Amber says. "All those elements work together, and we're all encouraged to focus on them equally and do what we need to do to be at our best."
A message worth sharing
This American Heart Month and always, Amber’s experience is a powerful reminder that heart disease does not wait for a certain age, and that symptoms never should be dismissed simply because someone looks healthy.
“Because I was younger, my symptoms were initially discounted,” Amber says. “That changed how I think about my health.” Today, she works out with a group two to three times a week, walks regularly, bikes when she can, and prioritizes rest and recovery.
“It’s about changing behaviors, not just adding medication,”Amber says. “Your health has to come first.”
Amber hopes her experience serves as a reminder that heart disease does not follow a single script. Symptoms can be subtle, unexpected, and easy to dismiss, especially in women who appear healthy and active.
Her message is simple and hard-earned: Pay attention, trust what your body is telling you, and speak up until you are heard. Taking heart health seriously is not overreacting; it is an act of self-respect.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
It accounts for about 1 in 5 female deaths — more than all forms of cancer combined.
Women’s symptoms are often different from men’s.
While chest pain is common, women are more likely than men to experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, back or jaw pain, and heart palpitations. These symptoms are more likely to be overlooked or misattributed.
Heart disease can appear earlier than expected.
Conditions such as atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease increasingly are diagnosed in women younger than 50, including those who are physically active and otherwise healthy.
Women are more likely to be underdiagnosed or undertreated.
Research shows women are less likely than men to receive timely diagnoses, aggressive treatment, or referrals to specialists for heart-related conditions.
Knowing your baseline matters.
Understanding your typical blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, and family history — and noticing when something feels “off” — can make a meaningful difference.
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