Singing Vocal Health

Vocal health for singers is very important when it comes to singing your best. There are several things that can have an effect upon the quality of your vocal performance. Therefore, it is wise to learn how to recognize potential problems so you can keep them at bay when it is time for a big performance. These are some everyday factors that can have an effect upon your vocal health:

Alcohol and your voice

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 vessels in your vocal cords dilate, the blood comes closer to the surface and this makes them more susceptible to hemorrhaging while you are singing. 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. If you want to sing well, don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke as well. You especially want to avoid smoke several days before a lesson or performance.

Clearing your throat frequently

If you are a habitual throat clearer, now is the time to break the habit and find the root of the problem. 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. A lot of times, throat clearing is just an established habit that results from trying to keep the vocal cords clear for singing. A little mucus on your vocal cords should not be too much of an interference with your voice.

Food and your vocal health

Some types of foods will irritate your voice For instance, dairy foods are noted to cause increased mucus production and this leads you to clear your throat more frequently. Some people claim that spicy foods don’t enhance their singing. You’ll have to discover which foods bother you so you can avoid them for a few days prior to a big performance.

Pollen, allergens and your voice

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. Listen to the local weather report to find out the pollen count. Pollen counts are usually much higher in the early morning hours or the early evening. If you need to spend time outdoors, doing so in the middle of the day is a good idea so you encounter less 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 can’t avoid taking the medications, be sure to drink a lot of water so your throat won’t get dry when you sing. If possible, you may want to forego the medicine on the days when you have to sing.

I hope you found this article informative. 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.

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