Monthly Archives: April 2012

5 Alternative Drinks for Alcohol

By admin on April 27, 2012

For some people, it is much too easy to blur the line between loss of inhibition for an evening and loss of control. Their once a month social outings with friends become bi-weekly, weekly and then perhaps become just a party for 1…every night. However, there are those that still walk the line of having a good time once in awhile and not crossing over that line to the “Dark Side”.

Social Drinking can still be dangerous if you don’t set your limits and take control when you feel you have had one too many. Going to a party or out to a bar with friends can be much safer if you know your cut-off point. However, cutting yourself off from alcohol for the night, does not mean becoming a “Debbie Downer” and ending your fun just because you don’t have an alcoholic drink in your hand. Here are 5 great alcoholic alternatives that you can enjoy whether you want cut yourself off from the booze when you think you have had too much or just stick with these tasty options from the get-go!

1. Tonic Water with Lemon- It’s a great way to look like you are still enjoying an alcoholic beverage, but it’s liquor free!

2. Diet Soda- Ordering a diet soda with a lemon will also make it look like its a mixed drink. Energy Drinks like Red Bull or Rock Star will of course, give you that added kick!

3. Water- An obvious option, but throw in a lemon or lime wedge and no one will even know! Plus, you will be the most hydrated of the group!

4. Coffee- This may be a harder one to get away with at an outing, but drinking coffee or iced coffee will keep you alert and your hands and mouth busy at the bar while you’re craving a beer or cocktail.

5. Non-alcoholic Beer- Most bars will have bottles of this faux beer waiting for you and sometimes at discounted prices as the beer companies like to push responsible drinking and bartenders may mistaken you for the designated driver, whom they like to take care of. You could even pour it into a glass if you are trying to keep up the persona you are “still having a good time”.

At any point you are socializing, whether it is at a work event, party or at a bar, drink responsibly and have a designated driver with you or opt to pay for a cab home!

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National Alcohol Awareness Month continues….

By admin on April 17, 2012

Alcoholism is a dreadful disease that sends millions of our loved ones in a deadly, downward spiral. Although many think they could surely spot the signs if a friend or loved one has an alcohol abuse problem, many of the signs and symptoms are difficult to detect. Alcoholism-Support.org is a great and informative website that offers answers to questions about alcohol abuse and offers resources for those wanting help.

This website features a great article about the actual “stages” of alcoholism. Even if you don’t think you know someone with an alcohol abuse problem, it’s still a good idea to take a few minutes to educate yourself on what signs to look out for in the event a loved one might need your help. Click on Stages of Alcoholism to read this article. Who knows….in your quest for knowledge this month, you may just end up saving a life!

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More on Alcohol Awareness Month 2012

By admin on April 10, 2012

Hello Readers!

It is week #2 of Alcohol Awareness Month 2012 and in doing research for these blog posts, I have really been learning a ton! I thought I knew just about all there was to know about the alcohol statistics out there, but some are just startling! This disease can begin in children as early as the 8th grade…THE 8th GRADE!! Take a moment to think back of what you were doing in the 8th grade and I bet it had little to do with alcohol abuse. Times, they certainly are a changin’… That is why I think it’s important for people all over San Diego and even the country to be educated (and even a little spooked out) about the statistics out there in order to truly identify if a family member or friend has an alcohol abuse problem.

Here are some eye-opening facts from the NCADD:

*Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.

*Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.

*Alcohol consumption has been linked with greater risk of disturbing trauma, including motor car crashes, bicycling accidents, falls, self-inflicted wounds, injuries during sports activities, injuries in recreational events, and interpersonal violence.

*Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, stroke, and cancer. (And, untreated addiction is more expensive than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.)

*One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.

*Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages of addiction.

*Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions.

*Young people who tasted alcohol before 15 years old were at 5 times greater risk to have past alcohol dependence or abuse as compared to persons who first used alcohol at age 21 or older.

*About 20 per cent of 8th grade students, 35 per cent of 10th grade students, and 48 per cent of 12th grade students admitted having tasted alcohol in their lives. About one-third of these students report binge drinking (five or more drinks on a single go.)

*About 40 per cent of high school seniors believe there’s no great risk in consuming four to five drinks almost every day.

For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month, keep checking Western Health Home Care. If anyone has comments, stories to share or ideas for future blogs related to Alcohol Abuse, please feel free to share below or on our Facebook or Twitter page. Have a great week and stay healthy, San Diego!

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Carlsbad Senior Dance

By admin on April 6, 2012

Dances like the Fox Trot, the Cha-Cha, Waltz, Jive, West Coast Swing, and even the Polka are not seen in many of today’s dance clubs here in San Diego. It’s true! Men don’t approach women for their hand in a dance like they use to 60+ years ago! Five piece bands are hardly seen in trendy, young clubs playing standards from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Etta James. For years I have looked high and low to find places in America’s Finest City that welcome this type of atmosphere where, although the average age ranges between 60-90, young love seems to flourish all around…

Western Health Home Care had the privilege of sponsoring the Senior Dance at the Carlsbad Senior Center Thursday, April 5th. With Jerry James and his band, A Sound Investment, filling the room with sweet standards from the 1940′s and 50′s, senior citizens from North County came in abundance to dance the afternoon away!

When I set up my Western Health table, I thought I would only be there to chat, pass out literature and help serve some punch. I had no idea that I would actually be DANCING! Ladies…here is a tip that I found yesterday: If you want to learn how to Fox Trot, or Waltz or Swing, get yourselves down to a Senior Center and volunteer during their Senior Dances! Not only do they love young people who take delight in sharing their love and memories from the era of their youth, it’s essentially free dance lessons from men and women who were some of the first to ever make these types of moves popular!

Here are some photos that captured some of the highlights from yesterday. (click on each photo to view full picture.) Not only did I have our table set up, I had great time chatting and dancing with some lovely men and women. Western Health also raffled off three $25 gift cards during intermission and provided the refreshments. Western Health Home Care is excited to sponsor the dance again on Thursday, June 7th! Hope to see you there!

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The Channel 6 San Diego Living Show 4/5/12

By admin on April 6, 2012

Hey San Diego!

Western Health Home Care was on the San Diego Living Show this morning! Melissa brought along Raul Carranza to share his story and powerful message about the Medi-Cal cuts that are taking place not only in SD, but across the country. Click San Diego Living to watch the entire segment!

Also, don’t forget to join Raul at the Occupy Medi-Cal rally tomorrow, Friday April 6th beginning a 11 am. It will be held in front of the Medi-Cal Offices at 690 Oxford St. in Chula Vista. You can also learn more about Raul Carranza by visiting his website.

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April is National Alcohol Awareness Month!

By admin on April 2, 2012

Hello Everyone!

We hope you enjoyed March’s blog posts focusing around National Nutrition Month. This week begins National Alcohol Awareness Month. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning,hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, during Alcohol Awareness
Month, Western Health Home Care encourages you to take this time to educate yourself and
your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Keep track of how much you drink, avoid places where over-drinking occurs, and find new ways to deal with stress. If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer to help.

Alcohol Abuse is not always a black or white issue. There are often gray areas that may make it difficult to tell if you or a loved one have an alcohol abuse problem. Here are some general questions to ask yourself or a loved one whom you think may have a problem:

• Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
• Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
• Does your drinking worry your family?
• Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won’t?
• Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
• Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?

If you or your loved one answered “yes” to any of the following questions, you may have an alcohol abuse problem. Western Health Home Care urges you to visit The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at www.pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm to learn about ways you or your loved one can cut down on drinking.

During the month of April, Western Health Home Care will be posting blogs on our website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter promoting awareness to this serious disease. Please continue to check back regularly for updated content and information.

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