Singing at the top of your lungs during a Red Tail Pavilion concert is bound to leave your voice a little strained. But you don’t have to be belting out songs at full volume to damage your vocal cords. Professional singers and anyone who spends a lot of time singing know that even everyday vocal use can lead to strain and injury.
How Does Singing Affect the Vocal Cords?
Your vocal cords are muscles that sit inside your voice box at the top of your windpipe. When you make noise, whether singing or just talking, air from your lungs passes through the vocal cords. As the air passes through the cords, it causes them to vibrate and produce sound. If you sing too long or too loudly, the intense vibrations can irritate or permanently damage the vocal cords.[1]
A horse or raspy voice is the most well-known sign of vocal strain, but difficulty reaching high or low notes, throat pain or a sensation of a lump in your throat are all possible symptoms as well.
Preventing Vocal Strain
You can prevent vocal strain with just a few care tips, including:
- Limit singing time. Don’t attempt to sing for hours if your voice isn’t used to doing so. If you feel the slightest bit of strain, stop singing and rest your vocal cords for a couple of days.
- Don’t push yourself past your limits. If you’re struggling to hit a high or low note, don’t force it. Slowly work up to the notes and consult a vocal coach if you’re having trouble.
- Warm up. Your vocal cords are a muscle and thus require warming up before heavy exertion. Try exercises like humming, lip trills and scales before belting it out.
- Stay hydrated. Dry vocal cords and throat are more easily irritated. Drink lots of water and herbal teas with honey throughout the day. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages as much as possible.
If your vocal strain doesn’t resolve within a week, contact Collin County ENT to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. It’s possible that there is another condition contributing to your symptoms.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Vocal cords. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24456-vocal-cords