15 tips to take care of our voice since childhood
The voice it is the instrument par excellence that humans use to communicate. For this reason, since 1999, the World Day of the voice every year on April 16, at the request of the International Federation of Otolaryngology Societies (IFOS). The goal of this day, explains the doctor. Adriana Pérez García, a specialist in Otorhinolaryngology, is "to spread the need for voice care, a factor of great importance as a means of interpersonal communication, as an instrument of work and as an artistic expression."
Taking care of this natural instrument to communicate is fundamental from childhood, not only if the children want to become singers, artists or announcers, but because the good state of our vocal cords is fundamental to communicate in any area of life. And it is one thing to educate the voice and quite another to take care of the voice so as not to lose it and keep it in good condition.
Dr. Pérez García notes that "they should pay special attention and go to laryngeal and voice checks the singers, teachers, smokers, those who suffer hoarseness of more than 3 weeks, those who have voice and pain exhaustion or discomfort when talking. "
15 tips to take care of our voice
For this reason, Dr. Adriana Pérez, head of the Voice Unit at La Milagrosa Hospital, offers us 15 tips to take care of our most valuable means of communication: our voice.
1. Limit the intake of drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine. They act as diuretics (substances that increase the amount of urine) and produce fluid loss from the body. The loss of fluid dries out the voice. Alcohol also irritates the mucosa of the membrane that lines the throat.
2. Drink plenty of liquid. From 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
3. Do not smoke and avoid being a passive smoker. Cancer in the vocal cords is more frequent in smokers.
4. Practice good breathing techniques while talking or singing. It is important to support the voice through deep breaths from the diaphragm (the wall that separates the thorax from the abdomen). Singers and speakers frequently practice measures to improve their breathing. Speaking from the throat without taking air we damage the voice.
5. Avoid spicy or spicy foods. Spicy foods cause more acid production and this goes to the throat or esophagus (causing reflux).
6. Use a humidifier at home in the case of living in a dry place. We recommend 30% humidity.
7. Try not to overdo the use of your voice. Avoid talking or singing when we are hoarse.
8. Washing hands often to prevent viral infections, flu, colds ...
9. Include foods rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables in our diet. These foods contain vitamins A, E and C, which help keep the throat healthy.
10. Rest enough. Fatigue has a deleterious effect on the voice.
11. Avoid talking in very noisy places. Trying to talk above the noise increases the tension in our voice.
12. Avoid mouth rinses or gargles containing alcohol or irritating chemicals. If necessary gargarisms use water with salt.
13. Avoid using mouthwashes to treat persistent bad breath. Halitosis (bad breath) can result from a cause that is not treated by mouthwash such as a small infection of the nose, sinuses, tonsils, gums, lungs, as well as gastric reflux.
14. Consider the use of a microphone. In large environments, such as a classroom or exercise, using a small microphone with amplifier can be very helpful.
15. Consider voice therapy. A language therapist who has experience in these problems can give us advice on how to use the voice appropriately.
Marisol Nuevo Espín
Advice:Dr. Adriana Pérez, responsible for the Voice Unit of the Hospital La Milagrosa
