Health Expert Toni Hurst shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/96140/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/96140/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/96140/index http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/103538/valentines-day Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:44:22 -0500 Toni Hurst Menopause takes its toll on romance, that's for sure. Between hot flashes, irritability and lack of desire, it can be hard to "get in the mood" for romance, even on Valentines Day. But failing to acknowledge your partner's love in a tangible way, ignoring his desire and putting love-making out of your mind can have serious consequences to your relationship, and not just in the bedroom. I know.   Some research shows a rate of 40% to 80% of... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/103538/valentines-day http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/102470/10-ve-menopause Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:01:36 -0500 Toni Hurst In keeping with Dorian's "10 things" theme for the new decade, I thought I would mention 10 things I have learned about menopause over the past 10 years.   1. Menopause doesn't last forever. It begins way before you notice it (your estrogen levels start declining long before your periods stop). Once the hot flashes and other annoying symptoms begin, you may be halfway through!  Those hot flashes and mood swings are not a lifelong... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/102470/10-ve-menopause http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/99685/swallow-story Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:55:29 -0500 Toni Hurst I am studying to be a registered nurse, so I know how valuable and life-saving some prescription drugs can be. And like all of us either facing or experiencing menopause, I worry about the threat of osteoporosis, or a thinning of bone mass due to calcium loss. I see the TV ads and hear my friends talk about the drugs they're taking to prevent or slow down osteoporosis.   However, when it comes to drugs, I consider myself a skeptical... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/99685/swallow-story http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/98246/clean-arteries Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:31:55 -0500 Toni Hurst Perhaps like some of you, my cholesterol was fine and dandy until recently, when my "bad" cholesterol (LDL) started to creep up and then skyrocketed as my body entered full-tilt menopause.  I wondered why.  I know that SOMETHING will eventually kill me but I really dislike the idea of a heart attack or stroke, and keeping bad cholesterol down (and "good" cholesterol, or HDL, up) has gotten harder and harder as I make my way through... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/98246/clean-arteries http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/85873/hysterectomy Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:03:53 -0400 Toni Hurst So, you're in pain and/or bleeding all the time and it's taking over your life. You're ready to rip your guts out but think a hysterectomy is a better way to go.  Is it right for you? And if so, what are the repercussions, side effects and dangers?   A hysterectomy means different things to different people. It can mean the removal of the uterus, or removal of other reproductive organs. These can be performed in different ways.... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/85873/hysterectomy http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/84657/hysterectomy Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:40:21 -0400 Toni Hurst (Part 1 of 2) An overwhelming number of women who ask questions or make comments on this site are questioning their doctor’s recommendation about a hysterectomy, or wondering whether their hysterectomy is causing their dire menopausal symptoms. It amazes and annoys me that their health care provider is either A) unapproachable about this topic or B) hasn’t taken the time to really explain the options to a hysterectomy or give... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/84657/hysterectomy http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/82033/taking-aspirin Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:05:57 -0400 Toni Hurst Menopause brings on so many changes that it's hard to know what to do first. Address your hot flashes? Take care of your mood swings? What about those headaches?   Actually, while menopause brings on a lot of physical changes, many of which can be annoying, your biggest concern as you reach menopause and move beyond it, is your heart. Heart disease is the number one killer of post-menopausal women. According to an article by Dr. Wen Shen,... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/82033/taking-aspirin http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/76044/participate Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:15:34 -0400 Toni Hurst On tonight's evening news, I heard a story about cancer patients who participated in a drug trial who got great results. At the end of the piece, the reporter said that the results were so good that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) would fast-track its studies on the drug, meaning it might be on the market in a year or two.   I thought, "If I had cancer, I'd sure want this drug faster than that." I wondered how I could... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/76044/participate http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/74915/menopause-drugs Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:44:59 -0400 Toni Hurst One of my last blog posts was about new drugs being developed to help relieve menopausal symptoms. Since then I've found even more drugs or treatments that are new or in the works. I am so excited about them, I wanted to share right away! Some of these drugs are being researched by huge pharmaceutical companies, and while I'm no cheerleader for the big drug companies, just the fact that they are looking into this stuff indicates to me that they... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/74915/menopause-drugs http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/73877/reproductive Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:13:59 -0400 Toni Hurst Over the weekend I became a grandmother. I don't like the concept much, or the word "grandmother" at all. Where I come from, grandmothers have blue-gray hair and always disapprove of what you're doing. They're old and infirm. They aren't active and young (!) like ME. In fact, when I found out I was a grandmother, I was on a rock-climbing trip. Grandmothers aren't rock climbers.   Don't get me wrong; I instantly fell in love with my... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/96140/73877/reproductive