Drying of Vocal Folds and Ultrasonic Nebulizer Use...

The Week of August 15th BLOG: 

Tuesday Toss Up: Drying of Vocal Folds

There are LOTS of ways our vocal folds can become “dried out”. Why not do all you can to reduce the possibility of this, especially with those factors you CAN control??
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Based on this study:

Prioritize NASAL BREATHING versus open mouthed breathing.
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EVEN WHEN exercising. (And keep sipping water while exercising) …
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Use a humidifier and be aware of how often you expose yourself to DRY air environments.
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WATER WATER WATER. Wet snacks. Hydrating foods.
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De-stress. Continue to prioritize your emotional health.
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As we age, our vocal folds may lose tone, flexibility, elasticity, and lubrication (they’re more prone to drying out). We may not be able to definitively control what happens to our bodies as we age, BUT we can certainly be proactive by being aware of so many ways to get and stay hydrated.
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The same Leydon et al. study found that “clinical protocols directed at facilitating vocal fold epithelial ion and fluid transport may benefit healthy speakers, those with voice disorders, AND those at risk for voice disorders”.  Stay tuned for another post this week all about ultrasonic nebulizers!! 

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#voxfit #voice #hydration #ultrasonicnebulizer #voicesfittoinspire #occupationalvoiceuser #fitnessinstructor #water #destress #humidifier #breathethroughyournose #chooseyourbestvoice #singer #voicetherapy #vocalhygiene #voicecare #vocalwellness #voicecoaching #vocalfolds #prioritizeyourvoice 

PRIORITIZE.YOUR.VOICE 

(Check out the fun video above!...and then read lots of info and research below!)...

Deeper Dive into Use of an Ultrasonic Nebulizer for Surface Hydration of Your Vocal Folds

A simple review on the importance of hydration if you are an occupational voice user: the MORE HYDRATED you are, the LESS EFFORT will be required to set your vocal folds (VFs) into motion. In other words, if adequately hydrated, your vocal mechanism will have a much better chance of functioning efficiently, & you will have much less a chance of experiencing muscle tension, vocal fatigue, &/or “unwelcome” changes in voice quality.

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Your VF tissues will vibrate more efficiently & you will likely experience decreased feelings of irritation/dryness in the throat area, therefore leading to less throat clearing or other phonotrauma.This optimal functioning of your vocal mechanism is crucial as an occupational voice user since your voice is consistently used for work and you are required to uphold high vocal demands.

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Surface/superficial hydration refers to fluid covering the VF surface & provides a physical & biochemical barrier protecting the VF mucosa from mechanical damage, irritation, & pathogen invasion AND facilitates efficient VF oscillation. It’s also a lot quicker of a benefit to those VF tissues (immediate!) when compared to systemic hydration (water, humidifier). Imagine a glass of water that you BREATHE..and has immediate impact!

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Surface hydration efforts of the “past” promoted STEAM as the top choice, but research has shown that tiny inhaled droplets of the boiled water via the steam are actually too large to make it to the VFs & instead usually absorb into the walls of the mouth, nose, & upper throat. This will likely still benefit the throat, nose, & oral cavity & possibly provide a soothing effect to the muscles/tissues, but more recent research has proven the dramatically beneficial impact of ultrasonic nebulizer use (w/0.9% isotonic saline solution).

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The particles of moisture created from a nebulizer are much smaller than those created from steam & therefore are able to truly moisturize the VF tissues instead of condensing in the supralaryngeal tissues (those above the voicebox), the throat, &/or oral cavity. 

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Ultrasonic nebulizers using 0.9% isotonic saline are MOST effective in optimizing voice function prior to dehydration or dry environment (Hansen et al., 2016). 

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The fluid in our VFs is made up of 0.9% saline, so using the same concentration via nebulization will promote the most optimal lubrication & hydration of the laryngeal tissues/VFs. 

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Tanner et al. (2010) found that nebulized isotonic saline provides IMMEDIATE RELIEF from the perceived negative effects associated with brief exposure to dry air in the singing voice & may serve as a laryngeal lubricant, decreasing the viscosity of the surface liquid (THINNING YOUR MUCUS!) on the VFs & thereby REDUCING VOCAL EFFORT & INCREASING VF vibratory EFFICIENCY. 

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It was also found that use of nebulized isotonic saline displayed the potential to REVERSE the perceived adverse effects associated with laryngeal dryness in singers (whereas nebulized sterile water was inadequate in achieving the same effects). 

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Another study by Tanner in 2015 found that nebulized isotonic saline improved voice production based on acoustic & patient-based ratings of voice severity. 

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Additionally, Santana et al. (2017) found that surface hydration with 0.9% saline solution led to an IMPROVEMENT in teachers’ VOICE QUALITY. 

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Leydon et al. (2008) found that “clinical protocols directed at facilitating VF epithelial ion and fluid transport may benefit healthy speakers, those with voice disorders, and those at risk for voice disorders”. 

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Research has also shown that the hydrating effects of nebulizer use can last up to two hours, which is enough time for your systemic hydration (water) to have also positively impacted your VFs. More hydration BANG for your BUCK!

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In case you need any more encouragement as to why it is SO important to begin and maintain a vocal hygiene program (as an occupational voice user), check this out: Sivasankar (2011) found that increased SYSTEMIC AND SUPERFICIAL VF HYDRATION as a component of VOCAL HYGIENE may improve OVERALL HEALTH & EFFICIENCY of the vocal apparatus and contribute to reduced driving force for vibration (lowering PTP), less fluid pressure build-up, and reduced phonotrauma.

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Challenges to achieving VF hydration occur daily and can result in reduced efficiency of VF vibration, increased perceived “effort” for voice use, & vocal fatigue/discomfort. Eliminate these effects by consistently CHOOSING optimal hydration despite busy days, crazy schedules, & unpredictable environments. The health of your VOICE is in your hands!! 

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I love and absolutely recommend @vocalmist —an extremely portable ultrasonic nebulizer that is chargeable via USB and comes with a “hydration pack” (0.9% isotonic saline solution)… 

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#voxfit #voice #hydration #ultrasonicnebulizer #voicesfittoinspire #occupationalvoiceuser #fitnessinstructor #water #destress #vocalmist #hydration #vocalfolds #breathethroughyournose #chooseyourbestvoice #singer #voicetherapy #vocalhygiene #voicecare #vocalwellness #voicecoaching #prioritizeyourvoice