Factors That Affect Vocal Health
Vocal health for singers is very important when it comes to singing your best. 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. Here are some common everyday factors to bear in mind:
How alcohol affects your vocal health
Alcohol dilates blood vessels in your body, which is not a good thing for your vocal cords if you plan to sing. 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. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages on the days when you will be singing or practicing and when you do drink alcohol, be sure to drink a lot of water to keep from becoming dehydrated.
Smoking and secondhand smoke affects vocal health
Smoke causes your throat to get irritated and this leads to inflammation that makes it difficult for you to sing your best. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. You especially want to avoid smoke several days before a lesson or performance.
Clearing your throat frequently
If you are constantly clearing your throat, you should find out the reason behind it so you can break the habit. Constantly clearing your throat could be an indication of a medical condition like acid reflux or postnasal drip. 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. A little mucus on your vocal cords should not be too much of an interference with your voice.
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 people may be affected by spicy foods while others are not. You’ll have to discover which foods bother you so you can avoid them for a few days prior to a big performance.
Pollen, dust and your vocal health
Allergies to pollen and dust will cause your throat and vocal folds to become irritated and inflamed. Ask your doctor for suggestions to help with allergy problems. In the meantime, take some basic precautions. 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. Listen to the local weather report to find out the pollen count. Most areas have higher pollen counts in the early morning or early evening. If you limit outdoor activities to the middle of the day, you’re less likely to encounter the highest levels of pollen.
Medications and your vocal health
Many times, the drugs you take for other conditions will cause your throat to become dried out. If you have to take the medication, then drink lots of water before you sing so your throat won’t become too dry. If it is possible, you might want to avoid taking any medications before your singing engagement.
I hope this post was helpful to you. If you’ve ever invested in singing lessons to improve your voice, then it’s likely you’ll be interested in discovering how to ensure your singing success (even without a record label deal) so be sure to check out Social Bandmaker.
