7 Ways To Take Care Of Your Voice
You might not think about it much, but your voice needs TLC just like the other parts of your body. Especially if you’re a singer, teacher, narrator, broadcaster, or podcaster. If you value your voice, it’s essential to care for the vocal folds that make it possible for you to speak or sing.
Vocal folds are two bands of smooth muscle tissue found in the larynx (voice box) that vibrate when air is pushed up from your lungs. Here are some ways you can help them stay healthy:
Don’t smoke
Smoking irritates your vocal folds and dries the mucosa, causing coughing, which causes more damage, and hoarseness. Smoking, anything, or inhaling smoke can damage your voice.
Drink plenty of water
Staying well hydrated helps the vocal folds vibrate smoothly and easily. Sipping water, instead of sugary or caffeinated drinks, will lubricate your vocal folds and keep them healthy.
Don’t drink too much alcohol
The mucosal covering of the vocal folds must be wet and slippery to vibrate properly. Alcohol dehydrates your body, which adversely affects your voice (as well as the rest of you).
Be aware of changes
Listen to your voice. If it changes, find out why. Hoarseness can be caused by smoking (don’t), yelling (don’t), illness, allergies, or something more serious such as laryngeal cancer. Consult a specialist.
Keep it down
Screaming during a game or yelling to be heard over the happy hour band can damage your voice. Try to speak at a conversational level to avoid bruising your vocal folds. Sometimes severe damage never heals.
Warm up
You wouldn’t run a race or play basketball without warming up first. And you shouldn’t give your voice a hard workout by teaching, singing, or recording two hours of narration without a warm-up session. You can find hundreds of warm-up videos on YouTube.
Try not to cough or clear your throat
Sip water or hot tea instead. Or sooth that tickle by letting a cough drop or sugarless candy slowly dissolve in your mouth.
Whether you use your voice to make a living or just love singing in the church choir, you might benefit from taking lessons from a professional. A teacher can show you techniques to improve your voice, reduce fatigue, and make sure your vocal folds stay healthy and happy.
