Protect Your Voice from the Cold!

November 18, 2019

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COLD TEMPS got ya down?! Yea ME TOO. But read on to make sure you’re doing all you can to prevent Jack Frost & Mother Nature from letting THEIR COLD impact YOUR VOICE.

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Dysphonia/hoarseness is more common in winter for several reasons—for one, we tend to be indoors more often. Low humidity & dry air (from central heat running & colder temps in general) reduces the fluidity of your mucus & also contributes to dehydration of the vocal folds (VFs); catch the hint from your skin as it also is more often “dried out” or flaky in the winter months. Dehydration negatively impacts body function but also reduces the ability of the VFs to vibrate efficiently & encourages the body to “work harder” for voice production than it should. All too common upper respiratory infections & colds may cause post-nasal drip which can also lead to throat clearing & VF irritation (& dysphonia). 

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Tips to Remember:

*Breathe in through your nose instead of your mouth (as this humidifies the air allowing the air to “warm up” & become hydrated before reaching your larynx & respiratory tract/lungs; it also filters out germs & allergens)

*Wear a scarf & hat (the majority of body-heat loss occurs through the neck & head; your VOICE lives IN your neck—you should protect it from the cold air and reduce the amount of skin exposed to reduce heat loss)

*Stay hydrated (water, humidification, steam, ultrasonic nebulizer w/0.9% isotonic saline solution)

*Eliminate throat clearing/coughing (to prevent any irritation or damage)

*Warm up your voice before use (speaking, teaching, singing, etc.) especially if outdoors

*Drink warm beverages as they can “warm up” the throat & feel soothing & relaxing to the laryngeal area (but avoid caffeine or alcohol unless you are drinking a cup of water for every cup of caffeinated beverage)

*Make sure your heating vents, radiators, & or air filters are cleaned regularly to prevent a buildup of dust or allergens within your breathing atmosphere

*Be aware of the drying effects of some commonly prescribed medications (antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, inhalers, etc.)

*If/when you use throat lozenges/cough drops, avoid those with menthol—try using hard candies or pectin drops instead

*IMMUNITY! Protect yourself from getting sick, as we know many sicknesses affect the voice. Take vitamins, disinfect, wash your hands, & avoid being around others who are sick