Tips for a healthy voice :

A good voice is an indispensable part of our personality, but for professional voice users it is the very focus of their existence. Vocal fitness and a voice exercise routine are as essential to the vocal artiste as daily physical exercise is to the athlete. Professional voice users include singers, actors, lawyers, teachers, broadcasters, radio jockeys, dubbing artistes, anchors, sports commentators, sales and marketing personnel, telemarketing executives, receptionists, telephone operators, etc. i.e people whose profession is dependant upon the use of a good voice. The devastating professional, psychological and economic impact that a voice disorder can have on them requires specialised voice care and the expertise of a voice specialist.

The following are broad guidelines for maintaining a healthy voice :

• Frequent clearing of the throat is traumatic to the vocal folds. Instead, take small sips of water or swallow silentlywhen you feel the urge to clear your throat.
• Talking loudly, cheering or screaming habitually can ruin the voice. Speaking at softer levels reduces vocal strain.
• Many good voices are destroyed by overuse or excessive talking. Reducing vocal output just a few hours daily is a helpful strategy for a strained voice.
• Avoid talking over noisy environments viz. in discos, aeroplanes, noisy classrooms, over loud music, over officeequipment.
• Avoid addressing large audiences without amplification. Drink at least 3 litres of water a day to keep your vocal folds moist.
• Caffeine and alcohol dehydrate vocal folds, thereby affecting the voice. For every mug of coffee you take, drink atleast one extra glass of water.
• Avoid excessive intake of alcohol, coffee and colas.
• Don't expose your voice to excessive pollution and environmental dehydrating agents viz. cigarette smoke, chemicalfumes, dry air.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking irritates the tissues of the throat. It is the leading cause of laryngeal cancer [cancer of the voice box].
• Avoid speaking at too high or too low a pitch. Don't sing beyond your comfortable pitch range.
• Avoid spicy and oily foods & late night eating as they lead to spill over of stomach acid into your voice box [acidity],leading to a swelling of the tissues lining your vocal cords.
• This usually results in a heavy, hoarse voice. Don't slouch. Adopt a balanced and aligned viz. a comfortably erect posture as incorrect physical and spinalalignment can squeeze the voice and affect breath support.
• Efficient breath management is important for a good voice.Don't demand more of your voice than you would of the rest of your body.
• Avoid strenuous use of your voice when you are ill or tired.

Source : Dr. Sadhana Nayak