Anyone who does a lot of singing knows that it is nearly impossible to sound good when your throat is dry or raspy, when you have a cold or other respiratory condition, or when there is a lot of mucus in your throat. You may not be aware, however, that there are several more serious problems that can greatly limit a singer’s ability to produce the tones we call music. It is important for people who enjoy singing for any reason to be aware that there are some effective actions they can take to ensure the health of their voice.

1)      First and foremost, try to maintain overall good health. It goes without saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to avoiding viruses like the common cold. Frequent hand washing, and using hand sanitizers have been known to reduce the transmission of viruses that cause colds and other infections. Many people swear by products like Cold-Ease, or other over the counter remedies that contain large amounts of zinc, as great preventatives.  Vitamin C is often thought of as an aid to maintaining health, as well. If your doctor does not see any reason for you to avoid these products, they will most likely do no harm, and they may give your immune system the boost it needs to ward off nasty viruses.

2)      Do what you can to reduce stress. Physical and emotional stress can both contribute to problems with vocal production. One of the best-known stress-relievers is exercise, which has the added benefit of improving over-all health. If you get your heart rate up through aerobic exercise and build muscle by weight training, you will have a healthier body and a more relaxed and stress free vocal system, as well.

3)      Be sure to get proper nutrition. It is important to eat a balanced diet at all times, but especially during times when you know you will be using your voice a lot. When you have a big performance coming up, avoid eating large quantities of salty, sugary, and spicy foods. You should also limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Because your body needs extra amounts of water to metabolize all of these foods, you are likely to rob your vocal cords of much needed moisture if you are not careful with your diet. A dry throat not only feels and sounds dry; it is at risk for sustaining real damage if you do not do what you can to replace lost moisture.

4)      Avoid very dry living environments. For the same reasons as those listed above, it is important for your voice quality to maintain a relative humidity of at least 40% to 50% in your home and workplace whenever possible. Be aware that heating systems and air conditioners both dry the air in indoor spaces, so the use of a humidifier is sometimes warranted. Cars, buses, and planes are also notoriously dry, so carry water with you when traveling, and drink it liberally.

Avoid tobacco products of all kinds. These are not only harmful to your general health, they may cause damage to your vocal cords. You should also be careful not to breathe second-hand smoke, smog, or other pollutants like exhaust fumes, strong chemical cleaners, paint thinners, etc. Anything that makes your throat feel dry or itchy is not good for you as a singer. With a little planning and a lot of common sense, you should be able to keep your voice healthy for a long time to come.

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