April 16 is International Voice Day.
The main goal is to raise awareness about vocal health, disease prevention, and the importance of the voice as a communication tool. The main recommendation: take care of your voice, avoid smoking and shouting, and consult an ENT doctor if you experience hoarseness.
Recommendations for preserving your voice
- Prevention and care:
Don’t ignore hoarseness or raspiness. If the problem persists for more than 2-3 weeks, consult a specialist. - Quitting bad habits:
Smoking is the vocal cords’ main enemy, causing chronic inflammation. - Proper use of voice:
Avoid shouting, whispering for long periods of time (it strains the vocal cords more than normal speech), and speaking loudly for long periods in noisy places. - Healthy lifestyle:
Drink plenty of water to keep your vocal cords hydrated, avoid foods that are too cold or too hot, and avoid frequent alcohol and caffeine consumption, which can dry out your throat. - Voice rest:
Give your voice a rest after prolonged strain, and try to keep talking to a minimum during colds. - Avoid talking in the cold:
When temperatures are below 10 degrees Celsius, try to speak as little and quietly as possible to avoid the cold air hitting your vocal cords directly. - Breathe through your nose:
Nasal breathing warms the air, protecting your vocal cords and preventing the entry of germs. - Neck protection:
During cold weather, wear a scarf to protect your neck from direct exposure to low temperatures. - Healthy sleep:
To prevent vocal fold fatigue, getting at least 8 hours of good sleep is critical.
