How often do you think about your voice? For most of us, the voice is something we pay very little attention to, except when we get sick or when someone happens to record us talking (and we all know how strange that is). A voice is something we habitually overlook. We don’t think about it. We don’t exactly take care of it like we do with our minds and bodies. However, the truth is that the voice needs “maintenance” just like everything else; although we don’t often think of our voice this way, it too can be either healthy or unhealthy, and must be taken care of properly in order to avoid future problems and injures. But how can we protect something we routinely overlook?
Think About Your Voice
The first step in taking care of your voice is developing a certain sense of self-awareness. Does your throat constantly feel raw? Is your voice hoarse? Do you have trouble talking or singing particularly high notes? It’s important to remember these questions and ask them often if you find that your voice doesn’t seem “normal.” Similarly, this method of self-evaluation comes in handy when you’ve been overusing your voice, when you’ve injured yourself, and when you have certain illnesses. The difference between a healthy voice and an unhealthy one is often recognizing small issues before they advance and cause complications.
Tips for a Healthy Voice
Our Boise Ear, Nose, and Throat experts know how to make sure a voice stays healthy. Here are a few tips!
- Clearing your throat. Clearing your throat might seem like a quick fix for a hoarse or choked-sounding voice, but the truth is that this action can be damaging to your vocal cords. Try to avoid clearing your throat as much as possible–instead, try a drink of water.
- Water. Speaking of water, good hydration can be extremely beneficial in trying to keep your voice healthy. Drinking 6-8 cups of water a day, and more when exercising or ill, is important in protecting your voice and your body. Remember that some drinks hydrate, like water, and others dehydrate, like coffee and tea and other caffeinated beverages.
- Be cautious. Protecting your voice requires a little bit of awareness, both of your own abilities and your surroundings. Don’t strain your voice; don’t try to hit notes you can’t reach; don’t overuse or misuse your voice; and, most importantly, remember not to overdo it when you’re ill.
Interested in more tips for a healthy voice? Looking for Boise Ear, Nose, and Throat experts? Contact us at (208) 336-4368 today!