Factors That Affect Vocal Health

To sing at your best, it’s important to look after your vocal health. There are a number of factors that can affect your vocal performance. What’s important is that you recognize problems and keep them at bay before a big performance. These are some everyday factors that can have an effect upon your vocal health:

How alcohol affects your vocal health

Alcohol causes the blood vessels in your body to dilate and that is not good for your vocal cords when you will be singing. When the blood vessels dilate, the blood thins and comes to the surface, which makes you more susceptible to a hemorrhage on your vocal cords. Limit your intake of alcohol to those days that you don’t have to practice or perform and drink plenty of water on those days that you choose to drink, because alcohol dehydrates you.

How cigarette smoke affects your vocal health

Smoke causes your throat to get irritated and this leads to inflammation that makes it difficult for you to sing your best. Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke as best you can. You especially want to avoid smoke several days before a lesson or performance.

Throat clearing

If you frequently clear your throat, you should find out the cause so you can break the habit. Clearing your throat a lot can be a sign of a medical condition like postnasal drip or even acid reflux. Try to develop the habit of swallowing rather than throat clearing and discuss the problem with your doctor to find out the cause. For many singers, throat clearing is just an unconscious habit that results from trying to clear the vocal cords for singing. Singing with a little mucus on your vocal cords shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Vocal health and the foods you eat

Some types of foods will irritate your voice Dairy products often cause mucus to build up, which causes you to clear your throat frequently. Some singers are affected by spicy foods. Pay attention to how your body reacts to certain foods, so you know what to avoid the day before or day of a big concert or performance.

Pollen, dust and your vocal health

Being allergic to dust or pollen can cause your vocal folds and throat to become irritated and swollen. Ask your doctor for suggestions to help with allergy problems. There are a few things you can do at home to limit your exposure to allergens. Maintain a clean home so dust doesn’t have the chance to settle and cause your problems and select allergy-free bedding to sleep on at night. Pay attention to your local news and weather for pollen count updates. Usually, pollen counts are the highest in the early evening or early morning hours. If you limit outdoor activities to the middle of the day, you’re less likely to encounter the highest levels of pollen.

How medicines can affect your voice

Many times, the drugs you take for other conditions will cause your throat to become dried out. If you need to take the medications, compensate by drinking more water so you don’t get dry when you sing. You may also want to avoid the medications on the days that you have to do plenty of singing.

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