For many people, a strong, clear voice is a major part of their jobs for example, teachers, religious officials, entertainers, and salespeople. Even if you don’t have a job that requires you to speak a lot, there are likely times when you want your voice to be in top shape, such as for a big presentation or a job interview. There are some simple things you can do to keep you voice healthy year-round.
Drink plenty of water. Water helps to moisturize your throat and lubricate the vocal cords. How much is best to drink may vary by individual but 8 cups of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages per day is a good benchmark.
Avoid smoking and being around smoke. Smoking can cause inflammation and polyps on the vocal cords, not to mention puts you at greater risk for mouth, laryngeal, and lung cancers.
Try not to strain your voice. Yelling, screaming, and talking loudly for a long period of time put a lot of stress on your vocal cords. Use a microphone when speaking to a large audience whenever available. If you know that you’re going to be talking a lot, teaching a class, for example, warm up your voice by humming low to high tones up and down a scale a few times, rolling your tongue, and motor-boating your lips.
Keeping your voice in shape can make holiday events such as Christmas carol singing all the more enjoyable. Happy holidays, from all of us at Orlando Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates.
