How to look after your voice: hydration, rest and when to see a doctor
TUREFF• •0
Your voice is a physical instrument, and unlike a guitar you cannot replace the strings. Whether you sing in a choir, perform in bands or just sing in the car, a few habits help keep your voice healthy, and knowing the warning signs means you get help early when something is wrong.
Hydration
The vocal folds work best when the body is well hydrated.
- Drink water regularly through the day, not only just before singing. Water you drink does not touch the vocal folds directly, so hydration works over time.
- Go easy on caffeine and alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. NHS guidance on laryngitis specifically advises not drinking too much of either.
- Mind dry air: central heating and air conditioning dry the air. The NHS suggests keeping the air moist, for example by putting out bowls of water. Breathing steam is a common singers' habit too.
Rest and pacing
- Warm up before singing and cool down afterwards with gentle humming or slides.
- Build up gradually if you are increasing how much you sing, rather than jumping from occasional singing to hours a day.
- Take breaks during long rehearsals.
- Rest your voice when it is tired: a hoarse or tired voice is telling you something.
- Remember speaking counts: talking loudly over noise in a bar or a crowded room before a gig can tire the voice as much as singing.
Habits that strain the voice
- Shouting and screaming, including at sports events.
- Whispering when your voice is sore: it seems gentle, but NHS advice on laryngitis says both talking loudly and whispering strain the voice.
- Constant throat clearing: try a sip of water or a gentle swallow instead.
- Smoking, and smoky or dusty environments, which irritate the throat.
- Singing through illness: singing hard with a cold or laryngitis risks further strain.
When you have laryngitis or a cold
According to the NHS, laryngitis usually gets better on its own within a week or two. Its self-care advice includes:
- speaking as little as possible
- drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water
- keeping the air moist
- gargling with warm salty water (not suitable for younger children)
- avoiding smoking and smoky places
A pharmacist can advise on remedies for symptoms. Cancel or adjust performances if you need to; pushing through can prolong the problem.
Warning signs: when to see a doctor
The NHS advises seeing a GP if laryngitis symptoms have not improved after two weeks, or if you keep getting laryngitis or voice problems.
More generally, NHS and ENT guidance treats hoarseness that lasts more than about three weeks as a reason to be checked, particularly when it is not explained by a cold or infection. Some NHS sources use a slightly different time frame, so if in doubt, get it looked at sooner. Other reasons to see a doctor include:
- hoarseness lasting more than three weeks, especially if you smoke or drink heavily
- pain when speaking or singing
- difficulty or pain swallowing, or a feeling of a lump in the throat
- a lump in the neck
- coughing up blood or difficulty breathing, which need urgent help
- a sudden loss of voice or range after a strain, or a voice that tires very quickly
Most voice problems turn out to be minor and treatable, but persistent hoarseness can occasionally be a sign of something more serious, which is exactly why it should be checked. A GP may refer you to an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist, who can examine the voice box with a small camera. Some clinics have voice specialists and speech and language therapists who work with singers.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your voice, talk to a doctor.
What do you do to keep your voice healthy before a performance? Share your habits, or ask a question, in the comments.