Dehydration - Good hydration is essential to voice modification. Water helps thin the mucus that lubricates your vocal cords and eliminate sticky mucus on them. So hydrate throughout the day. The temperature of the water doesn’t matter much, just drink what you like best. *Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages do not count towards your hydration goals, and often DE-hydrate the vocal cords. Limit your intake*. If you find it hard to increase your water intake, fresh, watery fruits and vegetables can help you stay hydrated as well. Figure out how much water to drink here.





Reflux - Have you ever burped and tasted your food? Woke up in the middle of the night with an acidic taste in your mouth? Felt a burning sensation in your throat or chest after eating? These are all signs and symptoms of reflux. What does this have to do with your voice? Reflux is one of the leading causes of vocal discomfort. With all that stomach acid coming back up and entering the pharynx and larynx, there’s bound to be some that also touches your vocal chords. Not only does this burn, but it triggers your body to produce more sticky mucus to try and fight off and protect your throat from the acid. Reflux precautions (such as diet change or behavioral modifications) should be taken if you’re experiencing any symptoms of reflux. Learn more here.





Vocal trauma - Whether you’re yelling at the TV, talking loudly in a bar with your friends, or spending hours a day speaking at a different pitch that you’ve all a sudden jumped to without proper training, it’s not uncommon to experience vocal strain. Being aware of the effects these behaviors can have on the health of your vocal cord tissue is important. Best of all, it’s something you have complete control over! Checklist for vocal health coming soon. In the meantime, check out these 5 tips for a healthy voice.



