THE ESSENTIAL
- The ENT sphere concerns the ear, nose, sinuses, throat, neck and salivary glands.
- A check-up visit to an ENT doctor is recommended every year for people who sing.
Professionals, students or simple amateurs, all those who sing should take care of their voice so that it remains beautiful and holds up over the long term. For this, there are some tips. The first is to stay well hydrated.
Stay hydrated
Indeed, in case of dehydration, the vocal cords – the organ of phonation, which vibrates with the passage of air and makes it possible to emit sounds – are impacted and therefore less effective. This can go as far as very serious voice disorders in certain singers. Thus, it is therefore necessary to ensure that you drink at least one and a half to two liters of water a day.
In addition, when a place is dry, as may be the case in a heated room, it is possible to install an air humidifier to limit the impact on the vocal cords. If you feel discomfort, you can also put purified water in a nebulizer, a device that transforms liquids into very fine particles. This will allow you to occasionally breathe more humid air. Finally, if you do not have these two devices at home, you can also use boiled water steam in a saucepan. For this, pour the boiled water into a bowl and place your nose above it with a towel over your head and inhale. Be careful, let the water cool down a little before this operation because the steam that is too hot can burn your respiratory tract.
Warm up your voice
To avoid injuries, it is also important to warm up your voice. To do this, you can, for example, place a straw between your lips and pronounce the “u” sound for five minutes, changing the pitch and intensity of the sound. For more resistance, you can put on a pocket mask for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR mask) and sing! Two exercises to do before a singing session. And, of course, after this one, you have to let your voice rest.
Have a healthy lifestyle
Another tip: have a healthy lifestyle. And yes, it is also important for the voice. Thus, it is recommended to have a balanced diet, not to consume too many alcoholic, carbonated or caffeinated drinks. You should also avoid smoking because smoking – even passive – can damage the vocal cords. In winter, cover your throat, nose and mouth, areas where the cold directly affects the respiratory tract.
Listen to your body signals
When our voice is bad, our body sends us signals. But do you still have to know how to listen to them to remedy the problem? Among those that should alert you are vocal fatigue, unsteady voice, constant throat clearing, pain, mild or moderate abdominal tension, etc.
Consult if necessary
Finally, last advice, if you feel a problem do not hesitate to consult a health professional specialized in the ENT sphere (otolaryngologist) to solve it as quickly as possible. If you let it drag on, your voice could get worse with the risk of not being able to sing for a long time!