Voice Health
Summer fever is in the air…the scene is set for a fun night at this neighborhood bar…drinks are flowing, the crowd is lively, but, for bartender, Daniel Thomases, he’s doing everything he can to not only serve up the best margarita in town, he’s making every effort to protect his voice…however, the noise level makes this quite the challenge.
“You are yelling to have a normal conversation,” says Daniel Thomases.
Night after night, Daniel says his voice gets abused, barely leaving him with any voice at all. “Trying to communicate trying to tell the customer the price or asking them their drink order and asking them to repeat it cause you didn’t hear them the first time or confirming it with them, whatever it might be, it’s non- stop straining of the voice,” says Daniel.
“When you scream what happens is you are snapping your vocal chords closed and that can cause damage to the vocal chord edges and that can cause swelling and then they wouldn’t close in approximate, exactly the way they should and you would get hoarse and if it becomes really bad you can even lose your voice,” explains Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, Dr. Jordan Josephson, of Lenox Hill Hospital.
Breaking free from winter hibernation, many of us will make the exodus to the great outdoors, enjoying everything from sporting events to musical concerts under the stars… but, while we celebrate the summer season we could be damaging our voices as we struggle to speak and be heard.
“If you are somebody that is going to be at the ball game you should probably refrain from yelling, especially when your voice is becoming inflame and you feel the hoarseness and your voice is changing the quality. Just like you would want to stretch in the morning before you go run in the park, stay well hydrated, you should stay away from cigarette smoke or anything that will inflame the vocal chords,” says Dr. Josephson.
The sound of our voice is produced when the vocal cords vibrate due to the passage of air through the larynx. Sound made by the cords is amplified and shaped when it passes through the nose and mouth. Common symptoms of a voice problem include hoarseness or raspy-sounding speech; a raw, achy, or strained throat with voice use and an increased effort needed to talk or sing.
“If you are someone who smokes cigarettes, or smokes cigars or pipes in the past or present, certainly voice abuse, upper respiratory track infections like sinus problems or reflux from your stomach can cause hoarseness.”
While water is best at hydrating, avoid fluids that cause dehydration like alcohol and caffeinated beverages. If you feel like your throat is dry, tired or is becoming hoarse, stop talking. And, minimize throat clearing...it can cause vocal cord injury and hoarseness…instead, drink some water.
After a visit to his ear, nose and throat specialist, Daniel is now giving his voice some much needed “TLC.” “Gargling with salt water, hot shower with the steam, that always helps out, staying away from smoke, I drink a lot of water, so I’m trying to stay as hydrated as possible,” says Daniel.
Now, something to keep in mind…significant voice changes are the most common sign of laryngeal (voice-box) cancer, which is diagnosed in nearly 10,000 Americans each year. More than 95 percent of people diagnosed with the most common type of laryngeal cancer are smokers. Heavy or regular drinking, especially combined with smoking, can raise the risk.
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